1. Chopin was one of four children born to his Polish father and French mother. What was his father's occupation?

2. What Chopin work is identical (in name only) to a famous piece by Ravel?

3. TRUE or FALSE: Robert Schumann declared Chopin a genius after reviewing Piano Concerto No. 1. ?

4. When Chopin left Warsaw, he traveled to Vienna in order to establish himself as a composer and performer. What was his principal method of this attempt?

5. After moving to Paris, his finances ebbed to an alarming low. Despondent, he wrote to his parents and stated that he intended to try his luck in a faraway place, where he was certain his talent would be recognized and rewarded. Name the place. ?

6. Was Chopin ever engaged to be married?

7. What famous composer said this of Chopin: "He has more soul in his fingertips than [a certain popular pianist] has from top to toe"?

8. Who was George Sand and what was Sand's relationship to Chopin?

9. To which island did Chopin and Sand repair so that Chopin could recuperate from bouts of ill health?

10. What was the cause of Chopin's death and how old was he?

2. Bolero

3. False. Schumann did declare him a genius, but he didn't review the first piano concerto (which was the second anyway) but the variations on La ci darem la mano (or something along those lines).

9. Mallorca

10. He died of pneumonia at the age of 39, I think.

8. George Sand was SWSBO to Fredrick Chopin. She was a writer who assumed a male name in order to be successful in her career.

1. His father was a French teacher, I think. Both his parents were amateur pianists, though.

5. Somewhere really quite outlandish wasn't it?... like Russia or something. Can't quite remember. (He did have some funny ideas though)

6. Probably!

10. Chopin died of tuberculosis, the 'fashionable' disease in 1840's Paris.

PS Nobody's answered half of the original Chopin quiz!! I'll post up the answers tomorrow.

AD, I though you said you'd post the answers up?...

I did, for the original Chopin quiz which I created. This one was created by AndrewG.

Peter

By what derogatory nickname did Sand's children refer to him ?

What facetious reply did he usually make to people when asked about the meaning of the final movement of the Funeral March sonata ?

Sand's children referred to Chopin as the invalid. She also used this term.

I believe the best source for literature on Chopin in the Project Gutenburg web site. Type Chopin in the search textbox. You will find a comprehensive two volume book by Frederick Neicks. The book that Franz Liszt wrote about Chopin, etc.

5. Chopin wanted to go to America. This is in Neicks book..but I can't remember. It might be England also.

Here is another question: Which pianist suggested to Chopin, that he should come and study with him for 3 years after his arrival in Paris?

Here is another question: What special technique in piano playing is chopin most associated with (almost legendary)?

6. There is speculation that Chopin was engaged to Jane Sterling - his scottish pupil. Incidentally, she was responsible for his trip to England and even introduced him to her parents for approval. Chopin rejected her....

Kalkbrenner.

Quite a few things are associated with Chopin I think, like four-fingered trills and full arm movement. Is this it?

The tempo rubato. When you read the accounts of those who heard and saw the master live, the tempo rubato was magical. Liszt was describing it to Von Bulow (one of his more famous students).

I don't know if you people are familiar with the Project Gutenburg. It is a project aimed at making documents whose copyrights have expired (pre 1923) available for free. You'll find Franz Liszt's book (fully translated), and the very comprehensive text by Frederick Neicks. There are letters of other composers, etc.

The site for frederick Neicks book is:

http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/fkchc10.txt

"""The site for frederick Neicks book is:

http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext04/fkchc10.txt """"

thanx

It would be good if these could be posted in the pianist corner from time to time, since most people go there. These are really interesting to read!