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Huneker, James, 1860-1921

"Chopin : the Man and His Music"

Dr. Niecks gives specimens of what the ingenious
publisher, without a sense of humor, did with some of Chopin's
compositions: Adieu a Varsovie, so was named the Rondo, op. 1;
Hommage a Mozart, the Variations, op. 2; La Gaite, Introduction
and Polonaise, op. 3 for piano and 'cello; La Posiana--what a
name!--the Rondo a la Mazur, op. 5; Murmures de la Seine,
Nocturnes op. 9; Les Zephirs, Nocturnes, op. 15; Invitation a la
Valse, Valse, op. 18; Souvenir d'Andalousie, Bolero, op. 19--a
bolero which sounds Polish!--Le Banquet Infernal, the First
Scherzo, op. 20--what a misnomer!--Ballade ohne Worte, the G
minor Ballade--there is a polyglot mess for you!--Les Plaintives,
Nocturnes, op. 27; La Meditation, Second Scherzo, B flat minor-
meditation it is not!--II Lamento e la Consolazione, Nocturnes,
op. 32; Les Soupirs, Nocturnes, op. 37, and Les Favorites,
Polonaises, op. 40. The C minor Polonaise of this opus was never,
is not now, a favorite. The mazurkas generally received the title
of Souvenir de la Pologne.
In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of
Chopin, October 17, 1899, a medal was struck at Warsaw, bearing
on one side an artistically executed profile of the Polish
composer.


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