Chopin

Jim Samson interweaves biographical and musical commentary to produce awell-rounded portrait of Chopin the man and the musician. Incorporating the mostrecent research, this volume succeeds in presenting it without recourse tounduly complex technical language. Samson addresses such questions as pedagogy,musical influences, and pianistic idiom. He examines the composer's maturemusical style, considers his unique approach to the genres of nineteenth-centurypiano music, and investigates the nature of his compositional process asrevealed through manuscripts and early printed scores. In reading the book webegin to understand why this frail and fastidious musician from Warsaw, whosemusic is so immensely refined and innovatory, has captured the imagination ofgenerations of music lovers the world over.

Formerly Professor of Musicology at Exeter University, Jim Samson has been Professor of Music at Bristol University since 1994. He has published extensively on Chopin and is regarded internationally as a leading authority on the composer.