Chopin´s Piano : A Journey through Romanticism

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In November 1838, Frederic Chopin, George Sand, and her children escaped the Parisian winter by sailing to Majorca, settling in an abandoned monastery at Valldemossa. Here, Chopin completed his revolutionary 24 Preludes on a small pianino crafted by a local artisan, which remained in their cell for decades. This captivating book explores the history of Chopin's Preludes through the instruments played, the pianists who interpreted them, and the traditions they shaped. It centers on the Majorcan pianino, which gained cultural significance during World War II as the Nazis sought to appropriate Chopin's music. The narrative also highlights Wanda Landowska, a prominent keyboardist and thinker, who rescued the pianino in 1913 and became a key figure in 20th-century music. Drawing from her private papers, Kildea intertwines her story with Chopin's, reflecting broader cultural and political histories of Europe and the U.S. The beautifully crafted narratives blend cultural history with a detective story, leading readers on an unexpected journey through musical Romanticism and prompting a fresh reflection on the evolving significance of music over time.