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Huneker, James, 1860-1921

"Chopin : the Man and His Music"

For
instance, in the Fantaisie, op. 13, the theme of Kurpinski moves
and saddens us; but the composer does not give time for this
impression to become durable; he suspends it by means of a long
trill, and then suddenly by a few chords and with a brilliant
prelude leads us to a popular dance, which makes us mingle with
the peasant couples of Mazovia. Does the finale indicate by its
minor key the gayety of a man devoid of hope--as the Germans
say?" Kleczynski then tells us that a Polish proverb, "A fig for
misery," is the keynote of a nation that dances furiously to
music in the minor key. "Elevated beauty, not sepulchral gayety,"
is the character of Polish, of Chopin's music. This is a valuable
hint. There are variations in the Fantaisie which end with a
merry and vivacious Kujawiak.
The F minor Fantaisie will be considered later. Neither by its
magnificent content, construction nor opus number (49) does it
fall into this chapter.
The Allegro de Concert in A, op. 46, was published in November,
1841, and dedicated to Mlle. Friederike Muller, a pupil of
Chopin.


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