Photo: WikiImagesThere are few composers who are quite as legendary as Frédéric Chopin.
In fact, Chopin composed his first concerto at age 6 and performed live for the first time at age 8. Chopin’s compositions, despite being hundreds of years old, are still some of the most popular musical compositions for pianists to play.
Whether you’re wanting to educate yourself more about Frédéric Chopin compositions or you’re thinking of learning to play one, this guide is for you. We’ve put together a list of Chopin’s most famous works.
Nocturnes Op. 9
We can’t easily make a list of famous Chopin compositions without listing at least one of the Chopin Nocturnes. Chopin wrote several of these nocturnes, although one of his more famous ones is Nocturnes Op. 9.
The melodies found in Chopin’s nocturnes in E flat and B flat minor are beautiful, charming melodies. These melodies are played throughout the Nocturnes Op. 9 and were composed around 1830.
At the time that he composed these nocturnes, Chopin was just in his early twenties. In all, he composed 21 nocturnes over the span of his career.
Fantaisie-Impromptu
Another wonderful work that Chopin put together was his Fantaisie-Impromptu. This composition was actually published after Chopin passed away, but he originally composed it in 1834.
What’s interesting about this composition is that Chopin often forgot how he wrote them. When he performed live, he would alter it slightly, making his concerts slightly different every time you listened to him.
Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brillante
One brilliant piece that Chopin created was his Andante Spianato. This piano piece is a rippling delight that has a much gentler sound than some of his other compositions.
The piece contains a section that has a huge fanfare that leads into a piano solo. The result is that the epic tells a delightful story, drawing you in throughout the entire song.
24 Preludes
Chopin’s most famous work has to be his 24 Preludes, which he composed back in 1839. These delightful preludes are a piano cycle that go over all the minor and major keys.
Chopin uses a circle of fifths to guide the preludes, following up each major key in the series with its corresponding minor.
What’s really unique about these preludes, however, is the feeling behind each one. Chopin named each prelude and wrote the music to correspond to the name.
The E minor prelude has a haunting melody that Chopin actually had played at his funeral. The piece gave a new meaning to the word prelude and challenged musicians to think about this type of composition in a new way.
Etudes, Op. 10
Another classic work by Chopin are his etudes. He wrote a total of 27 etudes, but our favorite is the Etudes, Op. 10. These Etudes were written back in 1839.
The Etudes formed a new type of piano styling. They’re some of the most difficult piano pieces ever written for the piano, and are only ever attempted by true experts.
Over time, some of his etudes have received different names. The Op.10 No. 3 is often called Sadness or Farewell due to its haunting sound. However, Chopin never named the piece this himself.
One fun fact about the etudes is that Chopin himself adored these pieces. He told a student once that his Etude No. 3 was the most beautiful melody he had ever written.
Piano Concerto No. 1
The first piece of music that Chopin ever wrote was his Piano Concerto No. 1. He published this piece in 1830, creating an expressive and expansive piece of music.
Chopin was in his late teenage years when he wrote this piece. It’s hard to believe when you listen to the intricacies of this piano concerto!
At the first live performance of Piano Concerto No. 1, Chopin played the piano piece. This was the last time he ever appeared publicly in Poland; he went on to live and perform exclusively in Vienna and Paris after this appearance.
Fantasy on Polish Airs (1830)
Another Chopin piece that we have to mention is Fantasy on Polish Airs, from 1830. Chopin was extremely fond of this beautiful piece that he composed.
He opened the piece with a back and forth between the woodwinds and string instruments. However, at bar 10 he brings on the entire orchestra, creating a stunning military fanfare.
Minute Waltz in D flat major, Op. 64, No. 1
If you love romantic trills and playful dynamics then you’ll fall in love with Chopin’s Minute Waltz in D Flat Major from Op. 64, No. 1. This piece dates back to 1847 and is a piece that’s fun to listen to and delightful to play.
The waltz is called a minute waltz because it’s considered a miniature piece. The piece is quite short, but is still full of rich sounds and delightful surprises throughout.
Originally, Chopin titled the piece “The Waltz of the Little Dog”. He gave it that name because his dog was racing around the piano and playing with its tail, inspiring Chopin to create this piece.
Polonaises Op. 40
The word Polonaise is actually French for Polish. Chopin wrote 23 of polonaises, a type of military-sounding piano composition that fills the room when it’s played.
In his Polonaises Op. 40, Chopin paired a Polonaise in A major with a delightful, somber-sounding piece in C minor. The two pieces have very contrasting sounds that go beautifully together.
Become an Expert on Chopin’s Most Famous Works
These are some of Chopin’s most famous works, despite the fact that he wrote dozens of other masterpieces. Regardless of whether you want to listen to these pieces or play them yourself, they’re truly enchanting works of art.
Did you love learning about these famous works by Frédéric Chopin? If so, we’ve got tons of other articles like this one! Be sure to check out the rest of our blog.
