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Chopin w oczach swoich uczniów

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Ideę tej pracy podyktowała nam potrzeba jak najbliższego poznania intencji Chopina, potrzeba pociągająca za sobą studia nad jego poglądami na sztukę i pedagogikę pianistyczną, a także nad kontekstem muzycznym i estetycznym, w który poglądy te się wpisują. Niniejsza praca opiera się wyłącznie na dokumentach, których autentyczność i ważność nie ulegają wątpliwości: kalendarzach kieszonkowych Chopina (z lat 1834, 1848 i 1849), jego korespondencji (częściowo też korespondencji George Sand), opatrzonych komentarzami z nut uczniów i przyjaciół oraz bezpośrednich świadectwach uczniów (dzienniki intymne, korespondencja, wspomnienia zapisane, przedyktowane lub przekazane ustnie). [Fragment wstępu książki]

450 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 1986

43 people are currently reading
417 people want to read

About the author

Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger

18 books2 followers

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5 stars
93 (56%)
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54 (32%)
3 stars
17 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Lena.
305 reviews39 followers
March 15, 2024
No dobra, już mi lepiej. Chopin pochwala i zachęca do wszystkiego, za co rypał mnie i czego mi zabraniał mój były nauczyciel. Yolo, pójdę za głosem Chopina.
Profile Image for patricia.
11 reviews3 followers
April 8, 2022
good account, especially for notes from Mikulki. nice notes on technical training as well as interpretations for Chopin's different staccato. it was interesting but had like maybe 5 lines on the piece i am researching :(
Profile Image for Ken Turner.
1 review
December 7, 2018
This is a fascinating book that you'll want to read if you are a pianist who loves Chopin.

Unfortunately much interesting information is buried in the Notes section (small print) and in the Appendices, which results in a disjointed reading experience.

In fact, only 70 out of the 324 pages are narrative. The narrative unexpectedly ends when you are less than a third of the way through the book.

Imagine you are eating a fabulous meal at a restaurant, but your plate vanishes without warning after you have eaten just a quarter of it. That's how I felt about this book.
Profile Image for Viki.
50 reviews18 followers
February 10, 2023
What a ceaseless marvel..I beg every advanced piano player to read this
Profile Image for Witoldzio.
344 reviews6 followers
July 24, 2025
This is the best work to date on Chopin, his pedagogy, and his students. Eigeldinger has collected a vast amount of material. It is a groundbreaking work, a true masterpiece that is superbly written and engaging to read. It is not dry or scholarly, although it is, by its very nature, very pedantic.
There is still much work to be done in this area, for example, the extensive correspondence between Jane Stirling and Ludwik Jedrzejewicz would be of interest to thousands of Chopin admirers.
There is also a relatively large number of so-called "loose ends," such as the often unconfirmed authenticity of many testimonies from students, friends, listeners, and other musicians.
The only thing that seemed to me a shortcoming in this book was the fact that so much important information is contained in the footnotes, which alone take up almost 70 pages.
5 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2022
This is a remarkable collection of writings by pupils and other contemporaries of Chopin that provides a very detailed view of his thinking with regard to piano technique and interpretation of his own works, as well as many independent observations of his own playing. Essential for an understanding of his works.
17 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2023
Definitely check this out just for the annotated scores. Has a lot of great stories also from people who knew Chopin about his playing.

Also there’s a lot to learn from the fingerings his students or he himself recommends.
Profile Image for Kavya.
180 reviews4 followers
July 9, 2022
my french king felipe told me to read this in spain. wish the narrative was longer 😕😢 because that portion was great. why was there so much in the notes? at least i read nonfiction.
Profile Image for Dak.
303 reviews13 followers
November 7, 2022
Must-read for any pianist playing Chopin! So much insight into his approach and reasons for composing in the style he did, plus how to interpret his work.
2 reviews
June 4, 2016
A well written, historically respectful insight on the greatest of all romantic musicians, documented through the written testimonials of his own adoring pupils.

The result is the portrait of an author, pianist and enthusiastic teacher, and of the way he perceived music, revealed its magic to his students, and how he intended the performance of his own pieces.

It's impressing to discover how humble this man was in relation to his own greateness, which was already acclaimed while alive, and how heasy - "facìle" - an approach to his masterworks he demanded from it's adoring pupils.

An artist for the pure love / need of art, not for the glory.

Revealing, a book which changed my perception of Chopin, his works, music and art as a whole.
Profile Image for William Mullin.
41 reviews
December 16, 2022
A great book and reference to come back to when learning Chopin. Unfortunate that the narrative only lasts roughly 80 pages and an immense amount of information is found in the Notes section and Appendixes (which is sometimes annoying). It was a good read though for a self-proclaimed Chopin fanboy. Lots of valuable information and you get to have a sense for Chopin's persona. You will learn more about Chopin and you will learn past pop culture's generalized comments on him.

Should be noted this was my first book on Chopin and he's my favorite composer, so I may be biased. But I definitely will read more books on Chopin and possibly change my rating. :)
Profile Image for Maxwashl.
27 reviews30 followers
June 9, 2012
Checked this book out from the library and now I really want to buy it. Lovely insight into Chopin's teaching and playing styles. This book has seriously influenced a change in my music performance in general, not just the piano. I am curious to know how the author is sure that these students said all these things, but I didn't check if there was sources for the quotes.
Profile Image for David.
353 reviews
July 11, 2017
This book improved my playing, because it helped me understand Chopin more than conservatory ever did. Best book on Chopin.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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