CHASING CHOPIN

A fresh look at an artist who created a new musical language: Frédéric Chopin

Frédéric Chopin's Opus 35, also known as the Funeral March, is arguably the best-known melody in the world. Cue the opening - dum dum da dum ... - and anyone can finish the measure. But the Funeral March is not the piece of music we think we know. The piece is in two parts, the second of which is rarely played. The March comes to an end and you think: that's it, a somber statement about death, an ending. But the music then continues in a joyous and hopeful second part.

Annik LaFarge follows Chopin during the three years, 18371840, when he composed his iconic "Funeral March" using its composition story to illuminate the key themes of his life: a deep attachment to his Polish homeland; his complex relationship with writer George Sand; their harrowing but consequential sojourn on Majorca; the rapidly developing technology of the piano, which enabled his unique tone and voice; social and political revolution in 1830s Paris; and his friendship with other artists.

As part of her research into Chopin's world, then and now, LaFarge visited piano makers, monuments, churches, and archives; she talked to scholars, jazz musicians, video game makers, software developers, music teachers, theater directors, and of course dozens of pianists.
The book is part adventure story, part music theory, part biography, and entirely captivating.

Annik LaFarge is a writer, photographer, lecturer, and author of the much-praised On the High Line: Exploring America's Most Original Urban Park, winner of the IPPY award for Travel Guidebook. She has been writing about the High Line and urban landscapes since 2009 on the blog Livin The High Line. Her most recent book is Chasing Chopin: A Musical Journey Across 3 Centuries, 4 Countries, and a Half Dozen Revolutions. She lives in New York City.