Frédéric Chopin Quotes

Polish composer and pianist (1810–1849)

Add quote

Frédéric Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish pianist and composer of classical music who lived in Paris from age 21. He wrote almost solely for piano and remains the most widely played composer for that instrument. He also wrote for violin and viola. His music ranged from patriotic, melancholy, passionate to simple and beautiful, and he was known as a great teacher of piano.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Native Name: Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen

Alternative Names: Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin • Frédéric François Chopin • Fryderyk Chopin • Frederic Francois Chopin • Frederic Chopin • Fr. Chopin • Chopin

From Wikidata (CC0)

[...] mam mój ideał, któremu wiernie, nie mówiąc z nim już pół roku, służę, który mi się śni, na którego pamiątkę stanęło adagio od mojego koncertu, który mi inspirował tego walczyka dziś rano, co ci posyłam.

Fingers of steel. Wrist of silk.

I am cross and depressed, and people bore me with their excessive attentions. I can't breathe, I can't work; I feel alone, alone, alone, although I am surrounded. There are a whole lot of ladies, 70 to 80 year-old lords, but no young folk: they are all out shooting. One can't get out of doors because it has been raining and blowing for several days.

Concerts are never real music, you have to give up the idea of hearing in them all the most beautiful things of art.

Play Mozart in memory of me— and I will hear you.

I astonished Kalkbrenner, who at once asked me, was I not a pupil of Field, because I have Cramer's method and Field's touch. (That delighted me.)

I have met Rossini, Cherubini, Baillot, etc.—also Kalkbrenner. You would not believe how curious I was about Herz, Liszt, Hiller, etc. — They are all zero beside Kalkbrenner. I confess that I have played like Herz, but would wish to play like Kalkbrenner. If Paganini is perfection, Kalkbrenner is his equal, but in quite another style.

You already know when I'm writing, so don't be surprised if it's short and dry, because I'm too hungry to write anything fat

How great a joy I feel in my heart. That a day so pleasant, so dear and glorious begins, a day that I greet with the wish. That long years may pass in happiness. In health and vigour, peacefully, successfully. May the gift of heaven fall richly upon you

I could express my feelings more easily if they could be put into the notes of music, but as the very best concert would not cover my affection for you, dear daddy, I must use the simple words of my heart, to lay before you my utmost gratitude and filial affection

Here you doubtless observe my tendency to do wrong against my will. As something has involuntarily crept into my head through my eyes, I love to indulge it, even though it may be all wrong.

Sometimes I can only groan, and suffer, and pour out my despair at the piano!

Time is still the best critic, and patience the best teacher.

One needs only to study a certain positioning of the hand in relation to the keys to obtain with ease the most beautiful sounds, to know how to play long notes and short notes and to [attain] certain unlimited dexterity... A well formed technique, it seems to me, [is one] that can control and vary a beautiful sound quality.

I wish I could throw off the thoughts which poison my happiness, but I take a kind of pleasure in indulging them.