Fryderyk Chopin
A Life and Times

Chopin is a detailed biography of a man whose life was shaped by wars with his native country being partitioned. In order not to lose the Polish identity, some people became very patriotic and that influenced Chopin and what he composed. His music reflects the love for his country, despite spending......more

Alan Walker, author of the monumental biography of Franz Liszt (3 volumes) has struck gold again. Chopin's life, times and music have been previously surveyed by such luminaries as James Huneker, Arthur Hedley, Ferdynand Hoesick (4 volumes) and Sir Charles Halle among others. What could be added to......more

An incredibly detailed and thoroughly researched biography of the “Raphael of the piano.” Listening to and playing music have offered me many years of passion and solace. My alleged good ear and musical memory have done little in the way of mastering Chopin’s music. I approached this lengthy book th......more

Prior books on Chopin had bored me so I was stoked to read this new 700 pager on his life. Chopin first used bi-metrical notation in 1830 but then rewrote the piece to make it easier for others to play. But some of his best stuff rhythmically uses it: he wrote sevens against threes, nines against fo......more

Aaargh! I read it. All 600 pages. If you're a pianist, or a lover of Chopin, there is a lot to be learned from this book. However, it's in the worst tradition of academic biography. A lot of it--most of it--is arcane details that make no difference to anyone or anything. "Maria Gurdalooski was Chopin......more