Chopin - was he an amok runner?

[counterpoint]

I definitely think, Chopin was not an amok runner, but a gentle man with good manners. So I think, his music should be played like that.

Discuss    

[pianistimo]

what is an 'amok runner?'  you mean, had a totally different style (all his own)?  went his own way?  i think some composers were more prone to the 'feelings' side of music and he certainly 'felt' things as though his skin were very taunt.  perhaps losing his family impacted him greatly.  he was not bound to get over the typical hurts and very attached to his own family despite their faults - because he couldn't stand to lose anything more.  his music expresses, to me, a longing for 'perfection' that is only found in music.  he always seemed to have a sort of sad expression - so in terms of the 'gentlemen' that women typically find attractive - no...i don't think he was.   perhaps 'solitary artist' describes him better,imo.  yes - he played in many salons and passed for a gentleman.  but, he could see through people and didn't find passing the time talking that important.  i think, from his music, he talked through the piano. 

in all that i have read about him, he seemed to have 'found' his life at a very early age - within a family that he loved.  he never could find another friend like his sister - and missed her terribly as the years went on.  liszt was a solace in 'temporary' pleasures but couldn't understand the deep hurts of chopin fully.  chopin was attempting to tease 'the old spirits of poland' back to life - and live through the eyes of a 14 year old forever more.  time stopped for him when poland was invaded.

[counterpoint]

what is an 'amok runner?' 

Other words from my dictionary are "madman", "to run amuck", "crazed gunman"   - it's Amokläufer in deutsch, someone, who doesnt think anymore but spreads terror around him.
That's how Chopin Etudes are often played imho 

[pianistimo]

i understand now!  yes - sometimes they are played so forcefully. you don't have to use force on them - to play them well.  i agree.

one thing i felt with the second ballade was a sense of 'anger and frustration' suddenly coming from nowhere, though - and i directly relate it (speculating) to what he saw as a young boy as the russians came in on their horses.  he was scarred by war.  he left poland - but i don't think he left without seeing a few atrocities. 

[rimv2]

i understand now!  yes - sometimes they are played so forcefully. you don't have to use force on them - to play them well.  i agree.

one thing i felt with the second ballade was a sense of 'anger and frustration' suddenly coming from nowhere, though - and i directly relate it (speculating) to what he saw as a young boy as the russians came in on their horses.  he was scarred by war.  he left poland - but i don't think he left without seeing a few atrocities. 

You astound me!