Chopin’s masterpieces. Popular classical music.
Are you looking for famous piano pieces and beautiful melodies?
Here are some masterpieces and recommended works by Frédéric Chopin, a pianist and composer who represents the early Romantic era in Poland.
Chopin composed as many as 21 nocturnes, and he also left a wealth of piano works in many other styles—such as mazurkas, waltzes, and polonaises—which is why he is known as the Poet of the Piano.
Let yourself be captivated for a while by the beautiful melodies woven by Chopin.
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Chopin’s Masterpieces. Popular Classical Music (221–230)
Étude Op. 10, No. 3 “Tristesse” (Farewell Song)Frederic Chopin
The opening melody is particularly famous—surely everyone has heard it at least once.
In Japan it is known as the “Farewell Song,” a name that took hold because the piece was used in the 1934 German film about Chopin’s life, Farewell Waltz.
Around the time this piece was composed, Chopin left his homeland of Poland and relocated to Paris.
His feelings then—overlapping dreams of success in Paris and nostalgia for the countryside—are vividly conveyed in the melody, which is warm yet at times intense.
Etude Op. 10 No. 4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin
Starting at a sudden, incredible speed, Chopin’s Etude Op.
10 No.
4 in C-sharp minor exemplifies how his etudes are all far more demanding than the term “study piece” suggests.
This work’s blend of ferocity and velocity is masterful, overwhelming the listener.
Though it’s a short etude that ends in a flash, it is dense and superb in substance.
Often performed in competitions, it is highly challenging and captivates audiences.
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-flat major “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op.
28, is a collection of very short pieces.
Among them, the fifteenth—widely known as the “Raindrop” Prelude—is especially popular, often heard as incidental music in television and film and beloved by piano learners.
Its calm yet slightly melancholy atmosphere, suggestive of a long, continuous rainfall, cannot be conveyed by playing it simply and evenly.
As you perform, be mindful of the subtle nuances that can be read from the score—such as harmonic changes and the rise and fall of the melodic line—while picturing a gentle, persistent rain.
Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin, known as the “Poet of the Piano,” composed Waltz No.
6, commonly known as the “Minute Waltz,” a famous piece that even those not well-versed in classical music have likely heard at least once.
Its lively, bustling rhythm and subtly humorous yet impeccably beautiful melody vividly embody the image of a puppy spinning in circles as it chases its own tail—quintessential Chopin.
Although both hands dart vigorously across the keyboard in this piece, playing it on a mini piano gives it a different flavor that, in a sense, accentuates its “puppy-like” charm and makes it utterly adorable.
Since your fingers are prone to getting tangled when actually playing it, it’s best to get accustomed to the size of a mini piano before taking on the challenge.
Etude Op.10 No.3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin
This is one of the pieces from the Études, Op.
10, composed in 1832.
It features a rich contrast: from a gently flowing and beautiful opening, through a lively middle section, and finally back to tranquility at the end.
In Japan, it came to be known as “Farewell Song” after this piece was used in a German film released in 1934 under the Japanese title ‘Farewell Song.’ As befits an étude, the fast passages in the middle section demand advanced technique.
Start by playing it at a slow tempo so you can savor the beauty of the music.
Etude No. 3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin
You’ve probably heard the opening melody at least once.
Because this piece was used in the 1934 German film “Farewell to the Past,” which depicts Chopin’s life, it’s affectionately known in Japan as “Farewell to the Past.” Around the time this piece was written, Chopin had left his native Poland and moved his base to Paris.
Perhaps the music reflects both his longing for success in Paris and his nostalgia for the countryside.
raindropsFrederic Chopin
Prelude Op.
28 No.
15 by Frédéric Chopin—known as “Raindrop” or the “Raindrop Prelude.” It is said to have been composed while the frail Chopin was recuperating on the Spanish island of Majorca.
Its gentle music evokes the steady patter of falling rain, and older players, too, are likely to feel soothed as they play it.
Although the original is calm, it contains a relatively large number of notes, so it’s best to practice with an arrangement that reduces the note density and uses a key with fewer black keys.