Frédéric Chopin

Life and music

Chopin grew up in Warsaw, learning piano with Wojciech Żywny and composition with Józef Elsner. His early musical life included encounters with Polish folk music. He studied at Warsaw University from 1826 and later built a career in Paris. There he befriended Liszt and other artists. His final public appearance was in London in 1848; he died in Paris the following year.

Short preludes, lyrical nocturnes, dance forms and larger concert works offer several ways into Chopin’s piano world. Ask which notes carry the melody and which support it. A short piece is not automatically easy, and an expressive melody needs more than correct notes.

Sources

• henle.de
• archcompetition.chopin.gov.pl
• chopin.pl
• greatcomposers.nifc.pl

Where to start

1. 1Prelude in A major, Op. 28 No. 7Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
2. 2Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
3. 3Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro

More pieces in the Music Room

At the dance floor

• Waltz in A minor, B. 150Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
• Mazurka in C minor, Op. 30 No. 1Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in G-sharp minor, Op. 33 No. 1Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (‘Heroic’)Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 6 No. 1Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 (‘Minute Waltz’)Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Walzer h-mollLevel 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in G minor (1817)Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro

Night music

• Lento con gran espressione in C-sharp minor, B. 49 (often called Nocturne No. 20)Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in F-sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in D-flat major, Op. 27 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 55 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in E minor, Op. posth. 72 No. 1 (often numbered No. 19)Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in B major, Op. 9 No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro

The study studio

• Étude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10 No. 4Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in E-flat minor, Op. 10 No. 6Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nouvelle Étude No. 1 in F minor, B. 130Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in C major, Op. 10 No. 1Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in A-flat major, Op. 10 No. 10Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in E-flat major, Op. 10 No. 11Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etüde c-mollLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in A minor, Op. 10 No. 2Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in E major, Op. 10 No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etüde Ges-DurLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in F major, Op. 10 No. 8Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in F minor, Op. 10 No. 9Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in A-flat major, Op. 25 No. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in F minor, Op. 25 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in F major, Op. 25 No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in E minor, Op. 25 No. 5Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in C-sharp minor, Op. 25 No. 7Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Étude in D-flat major, Op. 25 No. 8Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro

The prelude gallery

• Prelude Op. 28 No. 20Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 4Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 10Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 11Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 12Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 13Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 14Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15 (‘Raindrop’)Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 16Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 17Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 18Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 19Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 2Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 21Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 22Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 23Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 24Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 5Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude: Op. 28, No. 6Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 8Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in Op. 28, No. 9Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 45Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro

Sonata journeys

• Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35: IV. Finale (Presto)Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro

More pieces

• Fugue in A minor, B. 144Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in E minor, B.56Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. posth. 66Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Rondo in C minor, Op. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etude in C major, Op. 10 No. 7Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Variations in B-flat major, Op. 12Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in F major, Op. 15 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15 No. 3Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Rondo in E-flat major, Op. 16Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B-flat major, Op. 17 No. 1Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in E minor, Op. 17 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 17 No. 3Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Grande Valse Brillante in E-flat major, Op. 18Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Bolero in A minor, Op. 19Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in G minor, Op. 24 No. 1Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C major, Op. 24 No. 2Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 24 No. 3Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B-flat minor, Op. 24 No. 4Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etude in B minor, Op. 25 No. 10Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etude, Op. 25 No. 12Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etude, Op. 25 No. 4Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etude, Op. 25 No. 6Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Etude in G-flat major, Op. 25 No. 9Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise, Op. 26 No. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in E-flat minor, Op. 26 No. 2Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Impromptu in A-flat major, Op. 29Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B minor, Op. 30 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka, Op. 30 No. 3Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka, Op. 30 No. 4Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in B major, Op. 32 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in A-flat major, Op. 32 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B minor, Op. 33 No. 4 (source numbering)Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C major, Op. 33 No. 3 (source numbering)Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in D major, Op. 33 No. 2 (source numbering)Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in F major, Op. 34 No. 3Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Impromptu in F-sharp major, Op. 36Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in G minor, Op. 37 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in G major, Op. 37 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 41 No. 4 (source numbering)Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B major, Op. 41 No. 3 (source numbering)Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 41 No. 1 (source numbering)Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in E minor, Op. 41 No. 2 (source numbering)Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 42Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Tarantella in A-flat major, Op. 43Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Allegro de concert, Op. 46Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in F-sharp minor, Op. 48 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Fantaisie, Op. 49Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in G major, Op. 50 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 50 No. 2Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50 No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Impromptu in G-flat major, Op. 51Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B major, Op. 56 No. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C major, Op. 56 No. 2Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C minor, Op. 56 No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A minor, Op. 59 No. 1Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 59 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 59 No. 3Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 6 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in E major, Op. 6 No. 3Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in E-flat minor, Op. 6 No. 4Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in B major, Op. 62 No. 1Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro
• Nocturne in E major, Op. 62 No. 2Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B major, Op. 63 No. 1Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in F minor, Op. 63 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 63 No. 3Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 64 No. 3Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in G major, Op. 67 No. 1Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in G minor, Op. 67 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C major, Op. 67 No. 3Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A minor, Op. 67 No. 4Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C major, Op. 68 No. 1Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A minor, Op. 68 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in F major, Op. 68 No. 3Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in B-flat major, Op. 7 No. 1Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A minor, Op. 7 No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in F minor, Op. 7 No. 3Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 7 No. 4Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Mazurka in C major, Op. 6 No. 5Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in G-flat major, Op. 70 No. 1Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in F minor, Op. 70 No. 2Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 70 No. 3Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Funeral March in C minor, Op. 72 No. 2Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Scherzo No. 4 in E major, Op. 54Level 9, estimatedWith Maestro