Frédéric Chopin 

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• One of the most internationally well known musicians of all time, Frederic Chopin was a Polish pianist and composer living in the Romantic era. He started playing and composing as a child, and was soon dubbed a child prodigy. He is responsible for over 230 pieces which are still played worldwide today by hundreds of aspiring and professional pianists and orchestras. Some of his most well known pieces include the “Funeral March”, “Minute Waltz”, and “Revolutionary Etude”. Chopin was an original and gifted musician, and often improvised when playing in front of audiences. This free flowing creativity led to the creation of many of his masterpieces. Listening to Chopin's long, complex, and harmonious pieces, the reason for his fame is immediately clear. Only a musical genius would be able to write and play many of his works, and he was just that – a genius. Today, if you go see a pianist perform Chopin's music, expect to see a well dressed musician walk on to the stage, sit at a grand piano, and take a breath. The silence that follows that quiet inhalation will be heavy with anticipation. A sudden cascade of notes will then burst forth from the piano, startling the audience into smiles of appreciation which will last through the duration of the performance. The pianist's fingers will sail smoothly over the keys, almost too quickly for the eye to see, as he makes some of the most beautiful music known to man. Hearing Chopin's music live makes a big difference, as the theater halls will amplify the sound to a level impossible on electronic speakers. To truly hear Chopin's music in the manner the genius himself intended, go and see a live performance.

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  by ZoeWhittall