In this issue:  Creating Bass Lines | 
The Inspiration and Improvisation of Chopin’s Music | Sonatina in C

The Inspiration and Improvisation of Chopin’s Music

by Gail Smith

To celebrate the 200th upcoming birthday of Frederic Chopin we must honor this event with a fresh look at his life and music. Chopin is regarded as the epitome of the romantic style of music. Numerous countries have issued postage stamps honoring him. Yet we may never have heard of Chopin if it wasn’t for Robert Schumann. He published a review of Chopin’s music in his journal, ‘The New Magazine for Music’, which was the most influential periodical of the time and wrote, “Hats Off, Gentlemen –a Genius!” Clara Schumann introduced his music in her concert tours and was responsible for popularizing Chopin’s music.

Chopin composed approximately 200 works during his lifetime, yet only 64 of those works were published before his death. The fills and left hand harmonic flourishes found in his compositions will continue to influence improvisation. Chopin’s use of embellishments such as: trills, turns and scale passages, have made his music magical.

Chopin began improvising at an early age. He entertained a group of children by telling a story about robbers while accompanying himself on the piano. He told how the robbers got tired and returned to the dark woods to sleep while he played soft, dreamy music and the children actually fell asleep. Then he played a loud chord to wake them up. As an adult Chopin preferred to perform for small gatherings and improvise at the piano rather then give public concerts.

The patterns that Chopin uses in the left hand become improvisational models.
We find a pattern in the Nocturne in E flat of an octave with two chord inversions The variety of left hand patterns in the Etudes are amazing, especially the Revolutionary Etude.. The Waltzes have jumps and arpeggio patterns in abundance. Once a pattern is isolated it can be transposed and used when a chord symbol is shown on a chart to improvise. One has only to play a few bars from any piece and determine the diversity of styles Chopin perfected.

In a birthday note to his father when he was only eight years old, Chopin wrote: “Dear Papa, I could express my feelings of love and affection for you more easily if I could put them to notes of music on the piano.” Chopin confided in no one, he expressed his many moods, emotions and joys of life perfectly in his piano music. He was inspired by life. After attending a performance of Hamlet he composed his Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15, No.3. Chopin’s passion for freedom inspired ‘The Revolutionary Etude’ after the fall of Warsaw.. The Viennese waltzes of Johann Strauss inspired his 15 waltzes. The “Lithnanian Poems” by Adam Mickiewicz were the source of inspiration for his four great ballades while the lively Polish dances inspired his 55 mazurkas. The Minute Waltz was inspired by George Sand’s pet dog that was whirling around and around chasing its tail. Among Chopin’s friends this waltz was known as “The Little Dog’s Waltz”.

Chopin’s music is a model for improvisation and an inspiration for all generations. Start today to learn as many of his works as you can to celebrate his birthday in 2010.

[Editor's Note: I've included Chopin's Etude Op.10, No. 1 in the PDF for this article.smith.pdf]