November / Month of the Sonata – 7

by richibi

The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, 1818 - Caspar David Friedrich

     “The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” (1818)

 

             Caspar David Friedrich

 

                   _____________

 

           

meanwhile, back at sonatas for one 

instrument, it’s about time I brought 

up Chopin, the one composer that 

everyone associates before anyone

else with Romanticism, 1800, say, 

till about 1880, he incorporates it, 

not without reason, Chopin 

personifies the Romantic Era, like 

Mozart represents the Classical

 

others who count would be Elizabeth

Barrett Browning, her “Sonnets from

the Portuguese” – How do I love thee? 

Let me count the ways – Victor Hugo’s

“Les Misérables”, and Charles Dickens

preaching, in all his works, humanity

 

Caspar David Friedrich‘s, also, iconic 

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog“, 

see above

 

Chopin sounds a lot like Beethoven,

indeed, the first notes of his Second

Piano Sonata, in B-flat minor, Op. 35

are a reference to Beethoven’s 

Sonata no 8, his “Pathétique“, listen,

you’ll hear the same peremptory,

commanding, chord, demanding 

attention, the rest is consummate,

however, Chopin 

 

in the last movement, you’ll specifically

hear what Chopin brought to the table,

texture, soundscape, rather than a 

narrative line, music as background,

atmosphere, context

 

enjoy

 

 

R ! chard