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What makes Chopin sound like Chopin? This week, études, préludes, and songs! Oh, my!
Howdy, howdy, howdy! I’m Solomon Reynolds, and this is: Saturday Morning Car Tunes! This morning…
What makes Chopin’s music so special is his gift for melody. Inspired by Italian opera, his piano writing sounds like singing and has influenced countless songwriters. The main theme from his “Sadness” étude was sung by Jo Stafford in the song “No Other Love.”
Chopin was a very curious pianist who explored many different forms, like études, préludes, scherzos, and ballades—sometimes creating new genres. But his music was always guided by clear, lyrical lines. His Fantaisie-Impromptu was later sung by Judy Garland in “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” from the 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl.
One of the genres Chopin developed and elevated was the polonaise, a Polish folk dance. His "Heroic" polonaise turned into the song “Til the End of Time,” sung by Perry Como.
While his music can be hard to play, some of Chopin’s most elegant melodies are simple. He wrote a set of 24 piano préludes, one for each major and minor key. The simplicity of his E minor prélude shows up in this song by Jane Birkin.
There’s just so much emotion in Chopin’s music: sadness, but also hope. Barry Manilow turned Chopin’s C minor prélude into a love song, “Could It Be Magic.”
Next time you hear Chopin’s music, hum along. You might even write a new song.
I’m Solomon Reynolds. I write and produce Saturday Morning Car Tunes, with research assistant Carolina Correa and audio engineer Stephen Page, only on Classical California. Tune in—or out of your car—next Saturday morning!
