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Chopin—The Beautiful Soul of Music
Can Frederic Chopin, who wrote no 1)symphonies, no operas, and no 2)string quartets, who wrote only for the piano, be considered one of the greatest classical composers of all time? Instrument makers and composers have long devoted their lives to creating sounds that capture the range and essence of the most emotional instrument of all: the human voice. From the outset, Chopin 3)incorporated the singing or 4)cantabile style into almost all of his piano compositions. For those who heard Chopin play it seemed like the piano was invented for him and he for it. Today his compositions continue to be performed more than any others for the piano. Chopin proved that the full 5)scope and range of an 6)orchestra can be experienced from a solo piano.
Frederic Chopin was born in 1810 in a small Polish town near Warsaw. His mother was Polish, his father French. Chopin’s incredible talent was apparent at a young age; by the time he was seven he had already written several pieces. By the 7)ripe old age of nine he was performing publicly in Warsaw. Like every other European 8)wunderkind that showed great talent on the piano, he was being 9)touted as the new Mozart. Chopin studied music at the celebrated Warsaw 10)Conservatory. After graduating in 1830, he 11)embarked on a solo tour to find fame and fortune in Europe. While performing in Vienna, he learned of Russia’s invasion of Poland. Unable to return home, he went to Paris where he found himself among thousands of Polish 12)exiles. Chopin decided to stay among them and pursue a career in performing and teaching. The 13)frail sickly soft-spoken and elegant Chopin became a favourite of Paris high society.
Another thing that also astonished his 14)contemporaries was how he buried the traditional roles of the left and right hands. The “D Flat Major 15)Prelude” is a good example of this: the left hand begins with the raindrop 16)accompaniment while the right hand carries the melody. Note how a few bars in they switch. Chopin was a master of short forms: he had popularized his native 17)polonaises and 18)mazurkas and was known for the brilliance of his 19) ètudes and preludes. But it is Chopin’s 20)nocturnes that will be forever synonymous with his name. As their title suggests, they are dreamy night pieces, with melodies many people consider among the most beautiful ever written.
【生词注释】
1) symphony n. 交响乐，交响曲
2) string quartet 弦乐四重奏曲
3) incorporate v. 加入，结合
4) cantabile a. 歌唱般的
5) scope n. 发挥作用或能力的余地
6) orchestra n. 交响乐队，管弦乐队
7) ripe old age 高龄，通常指人活到较老的年龄，这里指肖邦在九岁时，他的作品与演奏已是炉火纯青。
8) wunderkind n. （德语）尤指音乐方面的神童，少年得志者
9) tout v. 吹捧
10) conservatory n.音乐学院
11) embark v. 登上
12) exile n. 流放, 流亡者
13) frail a. 身体虚弱的
14) contemporary n. 同时代的人
15) prelude n. 前奏
16) accompaniment n. 伴奏
17) polonaise n. 波洛奈兹舞曲
18) mazurka n. 玛祖卡舞曲
19) ètude n. 练习曲
20) nocturne n. 夜曲, 夜景
