Could legendary composer Chopin have been part of a secret conspiracy to save the free world from the greatest threat in its millenary history? In 1913, Barcelona was a city in social and cultural turmoil. A few months after the unexplainable disappearance of Subinspector Morillo in a mysterious Casino hidden in the mountains, Inés will be hunted by a sinister secret organization that has spent centuries searching for a mysterious object that can forever alter the balance of power in the world. Given the lack of any official explanation, and determined to find out what happened to Morillo, she will enlist the help of some unlikely allies in a dangerous quest that will take her from the Barcelona streets to the island of Mallorca, where she will be hunted mercilessly by a group of assassins. Her adventure will take her to some unique places like the mythical Carthusian monastery of Valldemossa (where during the winter of 1838, Chopin resided with his lover George Sand, seeking tranquility and inspiration), megalithic monuments, or spectacular Majorcan caves and underground lakes. Millenary secrets will be revealed and new ones will come to light in this long-awaited sequel to THE SUICIDE ROOM, the first novel in the series THE BICYCLE CHRONICLES.

Chopin's twenty-four Préludes remain as mysterious today as when they were newly published. What prompted Franz Liszt and others to consider Chopin's Préludes to be compositions in their own right rather than introductions to other works? What did set Chopin's Préludes so drastically apart from their forerunners? What exactly was 'the morbid, the feverish, the repellent' that Schumann heard in Opus 28, in that 'wild motley' of 'strange sketches' and 'ruins'? Why did Liszt and another, anonymous, reviewer publicly suggest that Lamartine's poem Les Préludes served as an inspiration for Chopin's Opus 28? And, if that is indeed the case, how did the poem affect the structure and the thematic contents of Chopin's Préludes? And, lastly, is Opus 28 a random assortment of short pieces or a cohesive cycle? In this monograph, richly illustrated with musical examples, Anatole Leikin combines historical perspectives, hermeneutic and thematic analyses, and a range of practical implications for performers to explore these questions and illuminate the music of one of the best loved collections of music for the piano.

An intricately plotted mystery and an engrossing story imbued with the foggy atmosphere of post-Communist Prague, the third book in the Walter Presents Library is a bewitching mystery about a woman who claims to transcribe music from the ghost of Chopin. Prague, 1995: Vera Foltynova, a widow in her late 50s, claims to receive visits from the ghost of great composer Frederic Chopin. What's more, she declares that Chopin has dictated dozens of compositions to her, to allow the world to hear the sublime music he was unable to create in his own short life. Many dismiss her story as a ridiculous hoax, while others swear that the music has the same beauty and refinement as the work of the dead master. Ludvik Slany, a secret police agent-turned-television journalist, is assigned to make a documentary debunking Vera's claims. He arrives in Prague ready to uncover a scam, but the more he subtly tries to trick her into giving herself away, the more he begins to think he may be witnessing a genuine miracle... The Ghost of Frederic Chopin is an engrossing story of music, faith and the ghosts of the past.

The first English paperback edition of the unique collection of documents which reveal Chopin as teacher and interpreter of his own music. From the accounts of his pupils, acquaintances and contemporaries, together with his own writing, we gain valuable insight into Chopin's pianistic and stylistic practice, his teaching methods and his aesthetic beliefs. The documents are divided into two categories: those concerning technique and style, two notions inseparable in Chopin's mind, and those concerning the interpretation of Chopin's works. Extensive appendix material presents Chopin's essay 'Sketch for a method', as well as annotated scores belonging to Chopin's pupils and acquaintances, and personal accounts of Chopin's playing as experienced by his contemporaries: composers and pianists, pupils and friends, writers and critics. The statements of Chopin's own students in diaries, letters and reminiscences, written, dictated or conveyed by word of mouth, provide the bulk of these accounts. Throughout the book detailed annotations add a valuable scholary dimension, creating an indispensable guide to the authentic performance of Chopin's piano works.

Important books, articles, reviews, and theses on Fr d ric Chopin (1810-1849) in Western European languages and in Polish are cited; selected references in languages such as Russian, Czech, and Japanese are included as well. The Chopin legend is considered through studies of the performance tradition and a discography of recent and reissued recordings. Short essays outline the historiography of Chopin research and the current direction of scholarship. Index.

Frédéric Chopin: A Research and Information Guide is an annotated bibliography concerning both the nature of primary sources related to the composer and the scope and significance of the secondary sources which deal with him, his compositions, and his influence as a composer. The second edition includes research published since the publication of the first edition and provides electronic resources.

This classic in music biography and criticism reflects the intimate knowledge of Chopin's music acquired by the author while studying to become a concert pianist. Part 1 deals with Chopin's life and comments on his teachings and performances; the second part offers a brilliant, piece-by-piece analysis of the entire body of his music.

In his comprehensive work, 'Frederick Chopin, as a Man and Musician,' Frederick Niecks delves deep into the life and art of one of the most influential composers of the Romantic era. Niecks expertly combines biographical details with musical analysis to provide readers with a rich understanding of Chopin's legacy. The book showcases Niecks' meticulous research and deep appreciation for Chopin's works, making it a valuable resource for music enthusiasts and scholars alike. Niecks' elegant prose captures the essence of Chopin's music and his impact on the musical landscape of the 19th century.As a musicologist and historian, Frederick Niecks was well-equipped to undertake the task of exploring Chopin's life and music. His understanding of the cultural and artistic movements of the time enriches the narrative, offering readers a nuanced portrait of Chopin as both a man and a musician. Niecks' passion for his subject shines through in every chapter, making this book an engaging and enlightening read for anyone interested in classical music and Chopin's oeuvre.I highly recommend 'Frederick Chopin, as a Man and Musician' to music lovers, students of music history, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most revered composers in classical music. Niecks' thorough research and insightful commentary make this book a must-read for aficionados of Chopin's timeless compositions.

Reproduction of the original: Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician by Frederick Niecks

In this indispensable volume, fourteen intellectually compelling essays consider Kate Chopin’s life and art from a variety of critical perspectives—biographical, New Historicist, materialist, poststructuralist, feminist—with several of the pieces focusing on Chopin’s classic novel, The Awakening. “ A worthwhile collection of essays offering usefully eclectic critical perspectives of Chopin and her work.”—Mississippi Quarterly