Frédéric Chopin On March 1st, 1810, Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin was born in Zelazowa Wola Village in Poland. At the age of 6, Chopin began to show musical talents on the piano and was writing verse and composing by the age of 7. Chopin began performing at salons at age 8 and it was not long before his skills surpassed those of his own piano teacher and was deemed a child prodigy. In 1826, Chopin's father enrolled him in the Main School of Music at Warsaw University. During the time he was in school he composed two important variations: Mozart’s Op.2 on the theme of La ci darem la mano and the Sonata in C minor, Op.4 (Chopin Institute 6), which were published and pushed his career forward. After graduating from the School of Music in July 1829, Chopin left to travel to Vienna, for a tour like experience. He gave two concerts in Vienna, in which he performed “Op.2 and Rondo” and “Op.13 and improvised”. Soon after he returned home to Warsaw, he made a reluctant return to Vienna in hopes of continuing his success, but his second trip was very different from his first. After he left, there was an uprising in Poland that prevented him from being able to visit or see his family or his home. In his distress he performed almost no concerts and the music that he did compose during that time was influenced by the gloomy mindset that he had about his family’s situation. After eight weeks in Vienna, Chopin moved to Paris, which at the time was the focal point of romanticism in music and the center of the pianistic world (Walker 20). Chopin made a comfortable living teaching piano to the daughters of the rich and also had a very lively social life, being associated with other artists such as Eugene Delacroix, Franz Liszt, and Hector Berlioz. In the late 1830s, Chopin began an affair with Aurore Dudevant, a novelist more commonly known as George Sand. When Chopin was with Sand he came to a new point in his career, producing a remarkable amount of compositions. During their time together, even in the midst of his troubles with tuberculosis, Chopin produced works such as the B minor sonata, the Op.55 Nocturnes and the Op.56 Mazurkas which are characterized by remarkable refinement and complexity (Libbey). As years passed, his relationship with Sand came to an end and his health was deteriorating even more. He died on October 17, 1849, at age 39, from his tuberculosis. Megan Gannon for livescience.com wrote that Chopin’s last recorded words were: “Swear to make them cut me open, so I won’t be buried alive.” It was said that Chopin had a terrible fear of being buried prematurely so as a result his body was buried at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and his heart is now kept in a crypt at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw, Poland. Frédéric Chopin was a composer in the Romantic Era. Chopin is infamous for being the first genius to be completely devoted to piano and compose piano centered pieces only. He composed extremely emotional music and many miniatures, ...

1. Frédéric Chopin
On March 1st, 1810, Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin was born in
Zelazowa Wola Village in Poland. At the age of 6, Chopin
began to show musical talents on the piano and was writing
verse and composing by the age of 7. Chopin began performing
at salons at age 8 and it was not long before his skills surpassed
those of his own piano teacher and was deemed a child prodigy.
In 1826, Chopin's father enrolled him in the Main School of
Music at Warsaw University. During the time he was in school
he composed two important variations: Mozart’s Op.2 on the
theme of La ci darem la mano and the Sonata in C minor, Op.4
(Chopin Institute 6), which were published and pushed his
career forward. After graduating from the School of Music in
July 1829, Chopin left to travel to Vienna, for a tour like
experience. He gave two concerts in Vienna, in which he
performed “Op.2 and Rondo” and “Op.13 and improvised”.
Soon after he returned home to Warsaw, he made a reluctant
return to Vienna in hopes of continuing his success, but his
second trip was very different from his first. After he left, there
was an uprising in Poland that prevented him from being able to
visit or see his family or his home. In his distress he performed
almost no concerts and the music that he did compose during
that time was influenced by the gloomy mindset that he had
about his family’s situation.
After eight weeks in Vienna, Chopin moved to Paris, which at
the time was the focal point of romanticism in music and the
center of the pianistic world (Walker 20). Chopin made a
comfortable living teaching piano to the daughters of the rich
and also had a very lively social life, being associated with
other artists such as Eugene Delacroix, Franz Liszt, and Hector
Berlioz. In the late 1830s, Chopin began an affair with Aurore
Dudevant, a novelist more commonly known as George Sand.
When Chopin was with Sand he came to a new point in his

2. career, producing a remarkable amount of compositions. During
their time together, even in the midst of his troubles with
tuberculosis, Chopin produced works such as the B minor
sonata, the Op.55 Nocturnes and the Op.56 Mazurkas which are
characterized by remarkable refinement and complexity
(Libbey). As years passed, his relationship with Sand came to
an end and his health was deteriorating even more. He died on
October 17, 1849, at age 39, from his tuberculosis.
Megan Gannon for livescience.com wrote that Chopin’s last
recorded words were: “Swear to make them cut me open, so I
won’t be buried alive.” It was said that Chopin had a terrible
fear of being buried prematurely so as a result his body was
buried at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and his heart is
now kept in a crypt at the Holy Cross Church in Warsaw,
Poland.
Frédéric Chopin was a composer in the Romantic Era. Chopin is
infamous for being the first genius to be completely devoted to
piano and compose piano centered pieces only. He composed
extremely emotional music and many miniatures, which is a
characteristic of the Romantic period. He was a perfectionist
and wrote many nocturnes and etudes, but he was really known
for polonaises and mazurkas, which gave him the reputation of
being a nationalist composer.
Chopin’s “Minute Waltz” is a very short piano piece. The waltz
is in triple meter and involves many changes in dynamics. For
example at approximately the 53 second mark, the music
crescendos to fortissimo and then the music will decrescendo at
the 58 second mark to piano. For the majority of the piece, the
tempo is presto, but from the 39 second mark to the 1:10 mark
the tempo is allegretto. The piece is played in legato, has a
polyphonic texture and is in ternary (A B A) form.
Frederic Chopin’s “Nocturne in C sharp minor B. 49” is in
three-part ( A B A) form and the tempo of the song is moderato.
At the 1:22 minute mark to about the 1:54 mark, you can hear
the song has a clear quadruple meter at that time. Many changes
in dynamics occured over the course of the piece. At the 1:55

3. mark, the mezzo piano notes begin to crescendo to forte and
then decrescendo at the 2 minute mark back to piano. From the
beginning of the piece till 20 seconds in, the nocturne has a
monophonic texture, but from the 21 second mark till the end of
the song the texture is polyphonic.
Chopin’s “Variations in A major B.37” is also known as
‘Souvenir de Paganini’. The piece is in sextuple meter, the
tempo of the music is andante and it has a pretty slow beat . The
texture of the song is polyphonic and the form is three-part ( A
B A’) with a variation. As for the dynamics of this piece, the
softness and loudness only change a few times. For example, the
crescendo from the beginning of the song, in which the notes
were piano, all the way to the 1:55 minute mark in the piece,
where the notes were forte. After the 2 minute mark, there are
clear examples of how the notes quickly crescendo and then
decrescendo, going up and then falling back down in a pattern.
Frédéric Chopin composed some of the greatest compositions
for piano and was in many ways ahead of his time. His music is
of interest to me because he did such an amazing job of
conveying emotions through his music. The way that Chopin
used the effects of consonant and dissonant tones really
enforced his message onto the listener and made his music so
distinct.
Chopin only played for small crowds in salons, so his music
was often shorter than most composers and he also composed
many waltzes. I believe that his miniatures are easier to follow
for a listener who might not be as into music from earlier
periods. Also, the tempo of the waltzes are allegro or faster and
they all have a triple meter so they are more upbeat and exciting
which will resonate more with people of today. Chopin was able
to make music about deep emotions that also set him apart from
other composers. Frédéric Chopin was a very unique composer
who paved the way for many other artists and wrote many great
works that characterized the Romantic Era.

4. Works Cited
Chopin Institute. Fryderyk Chopin - Information Centre -
Chopin's Life,
en.chopin.nifc.pl/chopin/life/biography/page/6. Accessed 30
April 2020
Gannon, Megan. “Chopin's Pickled Heart Reveals Cause of His
Death.” LiveScience, Purch, 16
Nov. 2017, www.livescience.com/60953-chopin-pickled-heart-
reveals-cause-of-death.html.
Libbey, Ted. “The Life And Music Of Frederic Chopin.” NPR,
NPR, 2 Mar. 2010,
www.npr.org/2011/07/18/123967818/the-life-and-music-of-
frederic-chopin. Accessed 30 April 2020
Walker, Alan. "CHOPIN: The Voice of the Piano." The
American Music Teacher, vol. 59, no. 6,
2010, pp. 19-26. ProQuest, http://nclive.org/cgi-
bin/nclsm?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/734719015?a
cco untid=10669. Accessed 30 April 2020
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel, was born on February 23, 1685.
Handel was born in Halle, Germany. Handel was a tall, robust
man who enjoyed food, wine and entertainment. He was
nicknamed “the bear” because of his physique. Even though
Handel was born in Germany he was became an English
composer. Handel composed in the late Baroque era. Handel is
most famous for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental
compositions. He longed to study music, however, his father
objected. He did not feel as though music could be a reliable
source of income. His father would not even allow him to own
a musical instrument, his mother on the other hand was very
supportive and encouraged him to pursue his passion. At the
age of 10, Frideric Wilhelm Zachow saw his potential and
invited Handel to become his student. Even after his acceptance

5. and compositions, Handel’s father insisted he attend law school.
Reluctantly, Handel agreed and attended law school at the
University of Halle. His studies did not last long and soon he
gave in to his passion for music. In 1705, he made his debut as
an opera composer with Almira. Handel composed many pieces
while traveling to Italy including his highly successful opera
Agrippina that premiered in Venice in 1710. While Handel’s
musical style was first influenced by German music as a child,
it quickly changed to Italian style in his early adulthood while
traveling to Italy. He became an international figure and was
being recognized by many famous people including the Queen
of England. He soon became fond of England and England was
fond of him. In 1713 he received royal favor for his Odefor the
Queen’s Birthday. He remained in England and composed 40
works. Handel was a prominent organist and composed more
than 20 organ concertos. In 1737, after his opera company went
bankrupt, Handel suffered a mild stroke that impaired the
movement of his right hand. He made a miraculous comeback
and even was able to play the organ again. Handel loved Italian
opera but had to abandon it for English oratorio due to financial
losses. It was not until 1741 that he composed his greatest
oratorio, Messiah. Because of Handel’s many contributions of
his work of oratorios and large-scale choral works, they became
the most popular musical forms in England. England was
responding well to this type of music and welcomed his style
and reference pieces to the Bible. In 1749, Handel began to
have issues with his sight and lost complete sight in his left eye.
He persevered to finish his last piece, Jephtha. By 1753 he
would lose sight in the right eye and declared completely blind.
He was a musical enthusiast until the end of his life. Handel
died April 14, 1759 at the age of 74 in London England and was
buried in Poet’s Corner in West Minister Abbey. Handel was
known to have a temper. He once had a near fatal duel with a
composer over seating in an orchestra pit. His life was spared
because of a metal button on his coat that prevented the sword
from piercing him. He once threatened to hurl a woman out a

6. window for her refusal to follow his directions calling her a
“she-devil.” He was ultimately considered a caring and
generous man. Handel never married and never had children He
bequeathed his assets to friends, family, servants and charities.
Handel is said to have made significant contributions to all the
musical genres of his generation. His total estate was accessed
at 20,000 pounds, which would mean he was a millionaire in
today’s time. In 2001, Handel’s childhood home became the
site of the Handel House Museum in memory of his life and
works.
Handel’s most famous work Messiah, an oratorio, is a mediation
of the life of Jesus Christ the Savior. It made its debut at the
New Music Hall in Dublin, Ireland in April 1742. After opera
fell out of style in London, Handel abandoned this genre and
turned to oratorios. Messiah was his 6th work in this genre.
The structure of Messiah resembles that of an opera but lacks
the dramatic form with no direct speech or impersonations. I
like this piece because of the scriptural text. Messiah was
originally written for Easter but is now a Christmas and Easter
traditional piece. Messiah is divided into three parts: 1) birth of
Jesus, 2) the passion, and 3) the resurrection. The text was
written by Charles Jennens, a literary scholar. Handel gave his
portion of the debut of this piece to a debtor’s prison and
hospital in Dublin. Messiah has harmony – all its elements fit
together to tell a story. A story of eternal significance. Even
though this work is joyful, it has a dark side to it with its
prophetic warnings along with pain and sorrow. This piece is
not only beautiful but educational. It shares the history and
theology of Judaism and Christianity and the Bible. It is a very
powerful piece of work.
The first movement is Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted. This
comes from the baroque aria. When I listen to the piece, I hear
trumpets and violins. I hear a male vocalist singing tenor. It
has a fast rhythm. The dynamics are loud and pulls back some
but goes right back up. The tones go high and then go low. The
texture is homophonic and polyphonic. This work is performed

7. by an all-male chorus. It is a very emotional piece. The
arrangement and use of word paintings make you feel like you
are living in the moment with the piece. It makes me hang on to
every word and movement.
The Hallelujah Chorus is my favorite chorus. It is also one of
the world’s favorite and most popular piece by Handel. The
chorus is energetic and dynamic. The feeling of joy engulfs me.
It lifts my spirits and puts me in a good mood. There are
sudden changes in texture going from monophonic, polyphonic,
and homophonic throughout this piece. The dynamics change
suddenly. The tempo can be strong and fast (allegro) at times
and then changes to a slower (adagio) tempo filling one with
excitement and intensity. The tempo sets the mood for this
piece. I love when all the voices perform together in
unison…HALLELUJAH! The rhythm is quick and repetitive.
Even though the words and phrases are repeated, this piece is
one of the most beautiful pieces I have heard. I believe the
angels in heaven will be singing this song when I arrive! After
I listen to this, I find my heart is racing and I am in awe of what
I just heard.
Handel’s music is interesting to me because he wrote so
my different genres including opera, Concerto Grosso,
oratorios. Depending on what mood you are in, you can find
something to listen to in his repertoire. His music inspires me
and lifts my spirits. I would suggest Handel’s works to those
that are looking for music that portrays great truths with
passion. I also like that he had a strong work ethic. He worked
hard and it paid off. I like that he knew his passion was music
and he pursued it even though it went against his father’s
wishes. He was a very successful and generous person. He has
left a legacy that has and will continue for many generations.
Works Cited:
“George Frideric Handel.” Biography.com, A&E Networks
Television, 25 June 2019,
www.biography.com/musician/george-handel.

8. Cudworth, Charles. “George Frideric Handel.” Encyclopædia
Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 Apr. 2020,
www.britannica.com/biography/George-Frideric-Handel.
Kandell, Jonathan. “The Glorious History of Handel's
Messiah.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Dec.
2009, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-glorious-
history-of-handels-messiah-148168540/.
MUS 110 Composer Project
Project Description: Pick one composer we studied in this
course. You may NOT use Mozart or Beethoven.
1) Write a brief biography of the composer that includes some
facts about him that were not included in the text. Some things
you might want to include: birth and death dates, where he
lived and worked, events that influenced his career choice and
his writing, any peculiar facts that make him interesting, etc.
2) Then, using correct musical terminology, describe in detail 2
– 3 of his compositions. Some things you might want to include:
stylistic period his music belongs to, genres the pieces fall in,
musical characteristics of the works … use the textbook
descriptions as a guide for this part. This should not be
generalized statements about his overall musical output, but
very specific information about the pieces you chose. You
should not use Google for this section of the project; listen to
the pieces then tell me what you are hearing in terms of texture,
dynamics, form, timbre, etc. Because you need to listen to and
describe the works, do not pick an entire opera or symphony;
instead, pick a specific aria from the opera or a particular
movement of the symphony.
3) Finally, tell me why this composer’s works are of interest to
you. If you were introducing this music to your friends or
family, what would you say to get their interest? Again, make
sure you use the musical vocabulary we learned in the course.
Notice that there are three parts to this project: bi ography,

9. description of compositions, and explanation of why this
person’s work is of interest to you. Also note that section 2 is
not a list of composition titles; rather, it is a description of
several works that should mirror the listening guides found in
your text.
While the quality of your content is more important than the
length of your paper, to adequately address all required sections
most papers will be 3 - 4 pages long. Remember to cite the
sources you use in your research (using any standard citation
method of your choice). As this is a college research paper, it’s
important to use reliable academic sources. Sites like Mental
Floss or personal blogs might be entertaining but are not
reliable. Good sources include Britannica, Biography,
university websites, and sites affiliated with major symphony
orchestras. Also, it is very important that you avoid plagiarism;
be sure to reword any information you are using, or to use
quotation marks and source citations for any passages you
quote. Spelling and grammar will be considered when assigning
your grade, so proofread your work! The tutoring center is a
great resource if you need a little help polishing up your final
product.
Although the last module includes information on some
relatively current performers, this assignment is to be done on a
COMPOSER. If you have any doubt about the person you have
picked, feel free to email me with your choice before doing a lot
of research.
Guidelines for Grading:
35% - quality of biographical information, including citation of
sources
30% - quality of description of the composer’s works, including
correct terminology
20% - quality of the explanation of why you chose this

10. composer, with correct terminology
15% - spelling, grammar, appropriate length, interest and
creativity
The paper should be emailed to me at [email protected]