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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.
【生詞注釋】
1) symphony n. 交響樂，交響曲
2) string quartet 弦樂四重奏曲
3) incorporate v. 加入，結合
4) cantabile a. 歌唱般的
5) scope n. 發揮作用或能力的余地
6) orchestra n. 交響樂隊，管弦樂隊
7) ripe old age 高齡，通常指人活到較老的年齡，這里指肖邦在九歲時，他的作品與演奏已是爐火純青。
8) wunderkind n. （德語）尤指音樂方面的神童，少年得志者
9) tout v. 吹捧
10) conservatory n.音樂學院
11) embark v. 登上
12) exile n. 流放, 流亡者
13) frail a. 身體虛弱的
14) contemporary n. 同時代的人
15) prelude n. 前奏
16) accompaniment n. 伴奏
17) polonaise n. 波洛奈茲舞曲
18) mazurka n. 瑪祖卡舞曲
19) ètude n. 練習曲
20) nocturne n. 夜曲, 夜景
