Chopin on his works

[chopiszte]

Is there perhaps any website where I can find Chopin's own commentary on his works?  I think it would be interesting to read.

English translation preferred, but I can deal with the French.

[e60m5]

I'd also be interested in work like this...

[chopiszte]

Actually, any composer would be wonderful, I mentioned Chopin because he is my focus.

[ramseytheii]

In the Book, "Chopin as Pianist and Teacher," ed. Eigeldinger, there are several examples of excerpts from his music where Chopin added variants for his students, which may be interesting for you, and I think a few words from Chopin on a few of his pieces, though nothing terribly surprising.

One time the old-time pianist Vladimir de Pachmann played for Liszt and Wagner.  Wagner said he would become the greatest pianist of all time (that proved not to be true), and Liszt said that de Pachmann played Chopin's works better than Chopin himself, adding that Chopin frequently played in a very mannered style.

Walter Ramsey

[henrah]

Vladimir de Pachmann

But he might have inspired one of the most legendary games ever.


Randomly, wakawakawakawakawakawaka

[ramseytheii]

But he might have inspired one of the most legendary games ever.


Randomly, wakawakawakawakawakawaka

Huh? whats that?

Walter Ramsey

[Kassaa]

Huh? whats that?

Walter Ramsey

PAChMAN

[houseofblackleaves]

Theres a biography of Chopin written by Franz Lizst......



And I can't find it.....

[alzado]

I have seen references to comments that Chopin supposedly made about his music at times over the years.

For one example, I understand that he himself did not very much like the Fantasy Impromptu and was reluctant to play it.

If in fact, he made comments of this source, there would have to be some source for them, wouldn't there?

I believe there are accounts from some of his students of how lessons with him would go.  For one thing, he liked his students to play Mozart and Bach.

[henrah]

I read somewhere that whilst playing one of his sonatas to his friends, monsters started coming out of the lid towards the end of either the first or second movement. He had to leave the room and compose himself before carrying on.
Henrah

[ramseytheii]

Theres a biography of Chopin written by Franz Lizst......



And I can't find it.....

I have it in a text file, I do not know how to post it here.  If you give me the email I will send it to you, or can you just tell me how to attach it to a post?

Walter Ramsey

[kriskicksass]

For one example, I understand that he himself did not very much like the Fantasy Impromptu and was reluctant to play it.

He actually wanted it burned after his death, but the student he trusted to do it decided to have it published instead. If only he knew what a beast he was unleashing on the world. 

[thorn]

He actually wanted it burned after his death, but the student he trusted to do it decided to have it published instead. If only he knew what a beast he was unleashing on the world. 

I heard that all of his posthumous works were meant to be burned, and that he found the Fantasie Impromptu too immature, and part of it was identical to a passage in Beethoven Moonlight 3rd mvt... dont remember where i heard it though