Chopin
2-22-22
Frédéric François Chopin, pronounced Sho-pan with a nasal n, was a frail, sickly man and died at age 39. His death certificate listed tuberculosis. He was buried in the Church of the Madeleine, Paris.
Here is a revealing look at the religiosity of this tender man.
https://ohchopin.tumblr.com/post/190418783565/as-a-catholic-chopin-took-a-conservative-stance
I quote: “As a Catholic, Chopin took a conservative stance (…) George Sand, on the other hand, praised sexuality, had socialistic ideals, and criticized the Catholic Church. However, following generations prefer to see the potential for a romantic love affair, rather than conflict between the two. (Dieter David Scholz).
“Faith in God and respect for religious tradition Chopin acquired at home, mainly thanks to, and from, his mother to whom he was deeply attached. By means of emotional reasoning he internalized his faith. It had its place in a strictly private sphere. ‘For a week now I have not written anything, neither for people nor for God,’ he said to T. Wojciechowski. When he wrote dates in his letters, he never forgot to put in names of important current holidays: Christmas or Corpus Christi.
“But the most convincing evidence comes – paradoxically – from George Sand herself. While remembering the years of her relationship with Chopin in Histoire de ma vie, she fully did him justice as a great artist but did not refrain from formulating a single but vital charge. It concerned his ‘closing up in Catholic dogmas’. And she added, not without affection: ‘He used to say to me: I suppose, nay, I am sure that she loves God.’ (Prof. Mieczyslaw Tomaszewski)
“As Liszt rightly put it (1852, p. 114): ‘Deeply religious and honestly devoted to Catholicism, Chopin never spoke openly about it, keeping the matters of faith to himself and never manifesting them to the outside world.’
“It is also worth noting that Chopin was very familiar with the Holy Bible, and he could quote it from memory until the end of his life. In a letter of 17-18 October 1848 to Grzymala, he wrote with visible impatience about camouflaged attempts to convince him to follow Protestantism on the part of Miss Stirling’s sister.
“‘Mrs. Erskine, who is a very devout protestant, and honest, would probably like to bring me round to Protestantism – she brings me the Bible, talks about the soul – takes down the Psalms for me – religious, honest, but really concerned about my soul – she’s always saying there is a better world than this one – but I know it by heart and answer her with quotes from the Holy Bible and explain to her that I know all about it.’ (Dr. Jacek Jadacki)”
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, pen name George Sand, was a French novelist, memoirist, and journalist.
Franz Liszt was Chopin’s friend and another giant of composition.
Only now do I know why I fell in love with Chopin the first time I heard my teacher, Mrs. Shirley Bracco, play one of his pieces. I was 13. Mrs. Bracco, a Catholic, was quite prim and proper. She wore her blond hair pulled back in a bun like a ballet dancer, and I Magnin dressed her. She insisted on technique and good hand positions, but she never gave me any background on Chopin. I think I know where she lives, but I am too shy to call.
Not until today did I know why I preferred Chopin over all the other composers. I could check off the boxes of his biography as if it were my own. When and if I go to Heaven, after I see my father, I will seek out Chopin.
I hope he lets me sit down at his piano bench, and he plays for me for an hour or so. I suppose he will not be able to refuse. It is Heaven, after all, and the hours of eternity never end.
2-22-22
Frédéric François Chopin, pronounced Sho-pan with a nasal n, was a frail, sickly man and died at age 39. His death certificate listed tuberculosis. He was buried in the Church of the Madeleine, Paris.
Here is a revealing look at the religiosity of this tender man.
https://ohchopin.tumblr.com/post/190418783565/as-a-catholic-chopin-took-a-conservative-stance
I quote: “As a Catholic, Chopin took a conservative stance (…) George Sand, on the other hand, praised sexuality, had socialistic ideals, and criticized the Catholic Church. However, following generations prefer to see the potential for a romantic love affair, rather than conflict between the two. (Dieter David Scholz).
“Faith in God and respect for religious tradition Chopin acquired at home, mainly thanks to, and from, his mother to whom he was deeply attached. By means of emotional reasoning he internalized his faith. It had its place in a strictly private sphere. ‘For a week now I have not written anything, neither for people nor for God,’ he said to T. Wojciechowski. When he wrote dates in his letters, he never forgot to put in names of important current holidays: Christmas or Corpus Christi.
“But the most convincing evidence comes – paradoxically – from George Sand herself. While remembering the years of her relationship with Chopin in Histoire de ma vie, she fully did him justice as a great artist but did not refrain from formulating a single but vital charge. It concerned his ‘closing up in Catholic dogmas’. And she added, not without affection: ‘He used to say to me: I suppose, nay, I am sure that she loves God.’ (Prof. Mieczyslaw Tomaszewski)
“As Liszt rightly put it (1852, p. 114): ‘Deeply religious and honestly devoted to Catholicism, Chopin never spoke openly about it, keeping the matters of faith to himself and never manifesting them to the outside world.’
“It is also worth noting that Chopin was very familiar with the Holy Bible, and he could quote it from memory until the end of his life. In a letter of 17-18 October 1848 to Grzymala, he wrote with visible impatience about camouflaged attempts to convince him to follow Protestantism on the part of Miss Stirling’s sister.
“‘Mrs. Erskine, who is a very devout protestant, and honest, would probably like to bring me round to Protestantism – she brings me the Bible, talks about the soul – takes down the Psalms for me – religious, honest, but really concerned about my soul – she’s always saying there is a better world than this one – but I know it by heart and answer her with quotes from the Holy Bible and explain to her that I know all about it.’ (Dr. Jacek Jadacki)”
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, pen name George Sand, was a French novelist, memoirist, and journalist.
Franz Liszt was Chopin’s friend and another giant of composition.
Only now do I know why I fell in love with Chopin the first time I heard my teacher, Mrs. Shirley Bracco, play one of his pieces. I was 13. Mrs. Bracco, a Catholic, was quite prim and proper. She wore her blond hair pulled back in a bun like a ballet dancer, and I Magnin dressed her. She insisted on technique and good hand positions, but she never gave me any background on Chopin. I think I know where she lives, but I am too shy to call.
Not until today did I know why I preferred Chopin over all the other composers. I could check off the boxes of his biography as if it were my own. When and if I go to Heaven, after I see my father, I will seek out Chopin.
I hope he lets me sit down at his piano bench, and he plays for me for an hour or so. I suppose he will not be able to refuse. It is Heaven, after all, and the hours of eternity never end.