The January Chopin course was a great way to kick off the 200th anniversary year celebration of Chopin's birth. A devoted group of about 35 people met every Wednesday in January from 11a.m.-12:30 p.m. The session were held each week in a different house, with a different piano, where our wonderful hosts provided warm atmosphere, and coffee and sweets beforehand.
Together, we explored the many aspects of Chopin's life, including his fascinating relationship with George Sand. We also studied many of Chopin's beautiful piano works; at the piano I took these pieces apart to show how they are constructed, and then put them back together again in my performances. The combination of learning about both the musical and historical aspects of Chopin's life seemed to help everyone form a better sense of the meaning of Chopin's musical legacy.
The 4 sessions were divided into the following topics:
1) January 6 - Chopin's Polish Heritage
2) January 13 - Chopin's Life in France
3) January 20 - Chopin's Life with George Sand/Trip to Majorca
4) January 27 - The End of Chopin's Life
I am grateful to all of my wonderful students, of all ages, who made this class so memorable. Happy Birthday, Chopin!
Pamela Howland |
