Frederic Chopin, known as the poet of the piano, was one of the most influential and greatest composers of the Romantic Period. In the romantic period, composers used national melodies, rhythms and folkloric elements in their works. For Chopin, the Polish influence is mostly obvious in his mazurkas and polonaises. He composed music with such a nationalistic pride that it made him Europe’s greatest nationalist composer. In 1830, he left his dear Poland and lived in Paris for the rest of his life. Even though he would never return again, today his heart remains in Warsaw, pickled in a jar.
During the nineteenth century, many nationalist movements were taking all over the Europe. These movements were often characterized by an emphasis on literature, arts and music. Artists played an important role in these movements by writing music that would not only inspire but unify people in a common national cause. When Chopin was born, Poland was under Russian rule. Even though he did not actively take part in nationalist acts, he did indeed imbue his music with political ideas and nationalist purposes. Following Chopin’s departure to Paris, the revolutionaries in Poland were defeated and being apart from his country was devastating for him. Soon after these progressions in his country, he composed the “Revolutionary Etude” or the "Etude on the Bombardment of Warsaw" . This etude was a strong expression of Chopin’s feelings and requires a demanding virtuosity. One of my favorite interpretations of this piece is down below.
Another piece that I think political sentiments were attributed to was Heroic Polonaise Op.53. Like many other pieces of Chopin, this piece reflects both Polish rhythms and the nationalist spirit of the invasion period. Heroic Polonaise, is inarguably one of his most technically challenging pieces. It consists of a very powerful structure that evokes nationalist feelings. George Sand reffered to this piece as “heroic” and it remained so. This piece caused Chopin to be publicly perceived as being more political than had previously been the case. Down below is an interpretetion of Arthur Rubinstein who reffered to this piece as “the composition which is the closest to my heart”.
Chopin’s fragile and melancholic nature combined with his homesickness showed itself in many of his compositions. As mentioned above, Chopin was influenced by national melodies and the traces of Polish folk music is observable in his art. Even though Chopin never publicly stated or approved his music as a political symbol, many of his compositions were interpreted by nationalists. His compositions became a cultural symbol and made Polish melodies like “mazurkas” and “polonaises” known all across Europe. The defeat of the Polish independence movement was a key point in Chopin’s life and affected his composing style. His music was not only a political rebellion but also a blend of Polish harmonies. His devotion to his country resulted directly in many musical pieces and his elegiac yet inspiring character expressed these feelings like no other composer could have.
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