Technical And Interpretive Dimensions of Frédéric Chopin’s Place in The Piano Repertoire

Abstract

This study examines the profound influence of Polish composer and piano virtuoso Frédéric Chopin on the music of the Romantic period in the context of his musical development and piano technique. In this qualitative study, content analysis was used to understand Chopin’s musical language, periodic development and folkloric influences. The composer’s works were analyzed in detail both technically and aesthetically, focusing on Chopin’s works in the form of mazurkas and polonaises inspired by Polish folk music. Such works were used as a means of expressing the composer’s search for national identity and his cultural roots. At the same time, Chopin’s understanding of rubato and the importance he attached to ornamentation brought an innovative interpretation to the piano repertoire. The musical evolution of Chopin throughout his life and the effects of this evolution on his piano technique are also discussed in detail. In particular, how the coexistence of emotional depth and technical elegance in piano performance shaped an aesthetic understanding specific to the romantic period was analyzed. Chopin’s unique rubato approach was analyzed in terms of how it affected the balance between melody and harmony, and it was revealed that this approach resonated in the works of Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann and other composers of the romantic period. The findings of the study show that Chopin’s music is shaped not only by technical mastery, but also by a deep emotional expression and a sense of national identity. In this context, Chopin’s works offer a paradigm that enriches the aesthetic understanding of the romantic period.