A modern take on a classical icon: this āluminous bookā (Susan Orlean, New York Times bestselling author of The Library Book) tells the story of when, where, and how Chopin composed his most famous work, uncovering many surprises along the way and showing how his innovative music still animates and thrives in our culture centuries later.
In this widely-praised book, Annik LaFarge presents a very different FrĆ©dĆ©ric Chopin from the melancholy, sickly, Romantic figure that has predominated for so long. The artist she discovered is, instead, a purely independentāand endlessly relevantāspirit: an innovator who created a new musical language; an autodidact who became a spiritually generous, trailblazing teacher; a stalwart patriot during a time of revolution, pandemic, and exile.
One of Americaās foremost pianists, Jeremy Denk, wrote in The New York Times: āIt is almost impossible for me to imagine a world in which [Chopinās āFuneral Marchā] is both fresh and tragic, where its death is real. LaFargeās charming and loving new book attempts to recover this worldā¦This book took me into many unexpected cornersā¦For a book about death, itās bursting with life and lively research.ā
In this āentertaining dual music history and memoirā (Publishers Weekly), a āseamless blend of the musical and literary verveā (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) LaFarge ābrilliantly traces the footsteps of Chopinās lifeā (Scott Yoo, host of PBS Now Hear This) during the three years, 1837ā1840, when he composed the now-iconic Funeral March, using its composition story to illuminate the key themes of Chopinās life.
As part of her research into Chopinās world, then and now, LaFarge visited piano makers, monuments, churches, and archives; she talked to scholars, jazz musicians, video game makers, music teachers, theater directors, and of course dozens of pianists. She has given us, says pianist, author, and New York Times columnist Michael Kimmelman, āa tour-de-force and journey of the soul.ā
It is an engrossing, āimpeccably researchedā (Library Journal) work of musical discovery and an artful portrayal of a man whose work and life continue to inspire artists and cultural innovators in astonishing ways.
An acclaimed companion website, WhyChopin, presents links to each piece of music mentioned in the book, organized by chapter, along with photos, resources, and more.