Chopin's unpredictable, quasi-fractal offshoots.
August 6, 2017 8:57 AM   Subscribe

The Joys of Chopin, Our Most Catlike Composer. An appreciation, by pianist Jeremy Denk (with audio/video examples and commentary, SLNYT).
posted by storybored (6 comments total) 45 users marked this as a favorite
 
Great article! The part about overtones rings so true for me; I was awestruck by genius when I first realized the high trill in the Eb nocturne (near the end) is just sitting in that resonance. The text of the piece is already so wonderful, but the subtext is sublime. So much of his music is that way, and I envy the people who've made a career out of understanding and appreciating that.
posted by dbx at 9:32 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


I can understand why someone might say they don't like Chopin anymore, but if they say they never liked Chopin, then I say they never had a soul.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:42 AM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


Thanks for posting this. I read the article in the newspaper and thought "Now I will have to find all those pieces on line to I can listen for the various effects." Lovely to have the work done for me!
posted by ALeaflikeStructure at 10:14 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Kate Beaton, as always, on point: Chopin and Listz
posted by Malla at 6:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


There's a Youtube video of a masterclass with the legendary Rubinstein. The student is playing Chopin's Ballade, one of the four.

At a particular point, Rubinstein stops the student and says: "No, no, no, you must never be pompous with Chopin. You can with Liszt! But not with Chopin."
posted by metaseeker at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


J.K. Seazer How can anyone say they don't like Chopin any longer? That's just inconceivable to me, and very sad. You take piano lessons/study music for a few years and you never get tired of Chopin. At least I haven't.

The Rubinstein vid was just what I need on this awful, rainy day. Thanks!
posted by james33 at 5:55 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]


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