| The music of Frederic Chopin is widely studied even | | | | not to play down the composer as the genius that he |
| over 200 years after it has been composed. Elegant | | | | was. |
| and brilliant melodies are sought after by aspiring piano | | | | The composer's piano allowed a player to utilize the full |
| students worldwide, who work hours on end to master | | | | range of the instrument and use both hands to create |
| the capabilities needed to play the composer's 24 | | | | unprecedented sounds and melodies. The difficulty in |
| Etude's, for example, and perhaps formulate their own | | | | getting more advanced pianos delivered didn't deter |
| interpretation. Many of the works, in fact, were created | | | | him from composing, however. In Valldemosa, a piano |
| on versions of the piano that were just being invented | | | | that the romanticist referred to as a tin pot still allowed |
| during the industrial revolution, and many people at the | | | | him to work on Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach. An |
| time were mystified by the sounds that could be | | | | upright piano was supposed to have been delivered |
| created. | | | | from Paris at the time, but there were many delays, so |
| In the early 19th century, there were many scientific | | | | it is thought that he composed a few major Romantic |
| discoveries and new products being developed. The | | | | pieces on the small piano. |
| general public didn't know what to make of many | | | | Despite situations where more advanced piano |
| things, and the birth of new music from instruments | | | | designs were not available, Chopin still composed |
| never before built was included in the realm of new | | | | innovative and to this day, well-known and respected, |
| possibilities at the time. As a teenager, Chopin taught | | | | pieces of music. Somebody with such phenomenal |
| himself the piano on an early version invented by the | | | | talent can create music on any instrument that is |
| English. Different models were invented by various | | | | available; expressing their talent and emotions on |
| companies in Vienna, London, and Paris, where the | | | | whatever there is to communicate their musical |
| composer ended up in 1832 to give a recital. | | | | virtuosity. The composer's ability to play and harmonize |
| The piano settled on by the composer was a | | | | by ear at a young age and also master the piano so |
| state-of-the-art instrument that had a range of over | | | | quickly is also proof of his capacity for talent. |
| six and a half octaves. The soundboard and cast-iron | | | | The question as to whether the piano held any secrets |
| frame were design to tolerate high tension from the | | | | about the Romantic piano music of Chopin is |
| steel strings, and a right pedal was included to prolong | | | | debatable. New technology at the time allowed for |
| sound and notes, while a left-hand, or una corda pedal | | | | things people then never heard before. With the rapid |
| made for more gentle sounds. The new design of the | | | | changes in technology today, the public is more |
| hammer allowed rapid repetition of notes that made | | | | accustomed to seeing new inventions on a regular |
| the piano more versatile in the range of sounds it could | | | | basis. Whether he played on a more contemporary |
| produce. | | | | design such as an aeolopantaleon or an instrument |
| The new capabilities of the piano during that time could | | | | more like the modern piano, the composer was able to |
| have led people to believe there were secrets to his | | | | create and play astonishingly elegant and diverse |
| romantic music. The sounds coming out of the | | | | music, so perhaps the only secret was the gift of |
| instrument were likely never heard by anybody at the | | | | genius the man possessed that bypassed the cultural |
| time, making Chopin seem like even more of a master, | | | | trends of the time. |