:: meet frédéric chopin ::
meet frédéric chopin. (p.s., I’m fairly certain this is one of the only pictures they have of him. looks stern, eh?) he’s one of my favorite composers, especially in his solo piano pieces. classical (specifically piano) music has always been a crutch for me. whenever I’m having a particularly stressful or awful day, a piano piece can quickly de-stress me. I think part of the reason why I run to chopin’s pieces more often than any other composer is because most of his pieces are written for only the piano (which I love), and they’re so passionate and real. to be honest, sometimes they sound like he just sat down at a piano and improvised his way through a song. his pieces aren’t easy to play, by any means, but they’re not as flashy (in my opinion) as some of the other pieces written for the solo piano. they’re more soulful, utilizing full range of sound and subtle nuances to fill the pieces out. as lame as it is, his pieces often make me emotional.
as of late, I’ve been drawn to the soundtrack from The Pianist; it features a few nocturnes (something chopin was fairly famous for), a few ballades and a waltz and mazurka for good measure. anyways, at least give one a try, even if you’re not a classical nut. please? you’d be surprised how calmed and focused it can make you.
originally posted: 6 March 2010