Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (French Frédéric François Chopin, Polish Fryderyk Chopin, less commonly Szopen (b. February 22 or March 1, 1810 in Żelazowa Wola, † 17. October 1849 in Paris), briefly Frédéric Chopin, was a Polish composer, pianist, and piano pedagogue of the Romantic period who had his heyday in his adopted country, France, between 1815 and 1848.
Chopin, who is best known for his piano music, took full advantage of the tonal/technical possibilities of this instrument, requiring of his performers the selective use of pedals, a sensitive touch (facilité "lightness"), and organic musical practice far removed from mechanical 'finger drill,' but rather a practice guided by the music itself in imitation of the Italian vocal ideal of bel canto.
Of his approximately 230 surviving works, the majority are pure piano music: Ballades, Nocturnes, Sonatas, Waltzes (such as his Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2), his Preludes 24 Préludes, Op. 28 and several genres more. In addition, there are two piano concertos, about 19 songs (Op. 74), and some orchestral music, such as the "Krakowiak" Concert Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in F Major, Op. 14.
You can search our online store specifically for titles by Frédéric Chopin. Also a search by opus number (e.g. in the notation chopin op. 53 for his Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53) leads you specifically to the desired work.
