Chopin's Letters

Frederic Chopin, E. L. Voynich

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9780486255644
• eBook ISBN:
  9780486319520
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music Biographies

"Nothing could be more spontaneous and ebullient than Chopin's letters." — Books
"Perhaps no composer's letters are so kindred to his music, and reminiscent of the impression produced by it, as Chopin's are." — The New York Times
This superbly edited selection of nearly 300 of Chopin's letters, the first to be published in English, vividly reveals the composer as man and artist, and evokes the remarkable age — Europe of the 1830s and 1840s — he shared with an equally remarkable cast of characters, from Jenny Lind to Isabella II of Spain, from Queen Victoria to George Sand, from Heinrich Heine to Victor Hugo.
The tone of the letters is exuberantly engaging: "They abound in delightful gossip, they are merry rather than malicious, they are engagingly witty, and at times their humor becomes positively Rabelaisian" (Peter Bowdoin, Books). Their contents offer rare glimpses into Chopin's childhood environment, his mind and character, his tragic love for George Sand, the origins of many of his compositions, the various musical influences that shaped his creative ideas and habits, and the artistic circles in which he moved.
Originally collected by the Polish musicologist Henryk Opienski, the letters have been translated and annotated by Chopin scholar E. L. Voynich. Students and admirers of Chopin will find in their pages vast resources to deepen their love and appreciation for — and wonderment at — the unique individuality and achievement of this great musical personality.

1.

To his father, on his name-day. [In verse]

When the world declares the festivity of your name-day,

my Papa, it brings joy to me also, with these wishes;

that you may live happily, may not know grievous cares,

that God may always favour you with the fate you desire,

these wishes I express for your sake.

F. CHOPIN
6 December 1816.

2.

To his mother, on her name-day. [In verse]

I congratulate you, Mummy, on your name-day!

May the heavens fulfil what I feel in my heart:

That you should always be well and happy, and

have the longest and most satisfactory life.

F. CHOPIN
16 June 1817.

3.

To his father, on his name-day. [In verse]

How great a joy I feel in my heart.

That a day so pleasant, so dear and glorious

Begins, a day that I greet with the wish

That long years may pass in happiness,

In health and vigour, peacefully, successfully.

May the gifts of heaven fall richly upon you.

F. CHOPIN
6 December 1817.

4.

To his father on his name-day.

DEAR PAPA!

I could express my feelings more easily if they could be put into notes of music, but as the very best concert would not cover my affection for you, dear Daddy, I must use the simple words of my heart, to lay before you my utmost gratitude and filial affection.

F. CHOPIN

6 December 1818.

5.

TO EUSTACHY MARYLSKI IN PECICE.

[Warsaw, September 1823.]

DEAR MARYLSKI!

I went myself to Pan Zubelewicz to find out when the lectures for beginners, not the examinations, begin; he told me that they begin either the 16th or the 17th of this month, the Commission not having yet decided whether the public session of the Academy shall be the 15th or the 16th. He also told me that the lectures are to be in the morning and the examinations in the afternoon, and that after the 15th he will not put anyone down. Excuse my writing so badly, I am in a hurry. Please tell Weltz what I have told you, and remember me kindly to him and Tytus. Białobłocki came to Warsaw on Saturday; he will enter his name on Tuesday, leave on Wednesday and return for the term. Mamma and Papa send greetings to your parents and Ludwika to your sister; and I embrace you and your brothers heartily.

F. CHOPIN

Messrs. Kulikowski, Karwowski [Karnowski?], Wilczyński, and Krzywicki are retired, and that professor from Kalisz has got Kulikowski’s place. Pan Dobronoki [?] sends you greetings. Goodbye. Don’t show this letter to anyone, because everybody would say that I can’t write and don’t know anything about politics.

6.

TO WILHELM KOLBERG.

Szafarnia, 19 August 1824.

DEAR WILUS’!

Thanks for remembering me; but on the other hand I am annoyed with you, that you are such a mean and horrid etcetera and only write such a scrap to me. Were you short of paper or pens, or did you grudge the ink? Perhaps you had no time to do more than put in a scrawl? Eh, eh, that’s it; you go horseback riding, enjoying yourself, and forget about me — Well, well; give me a kiss and I’ll forgive you.

I’m glad you’re well and jolly, because that’s what is wanted in the country. I’m so glad I can write to you. I also am enjoying myself; and you’re not the only one that rides, for I can stick on too. Don’t ask how well; but I can, enough for the horse to go slowly wherever he prefers, while I sit fearfully on his back; like a monkey on a bear. Till now I haven’t had any falls because the horse hasn’t thrown me off; but — if ever he should want me to tumble off, I may do it some day.

I won’t bother you with my affairs, because I know they won’t interest you. The flies often alight on my lofty nose, but that’s unimportant, because it’s rather a custom of these importunate beasties. The gnats bite me; but that doesn’t matter, because it’s not on the nose. I run about the garden, and sometimes walk. I walk in the woods, and sometimes ride, not on horseback but in a carriage, or trap, or coach; but with such honour that I always sit at the back, never in front. Perhaps I’ve bored you already, but what can I do? If not, then write by the first post, and I will continue my epistles at once.

I end my letter therefore without compliments, but amicably. Keep well, dear Wilus’, and please do write to me. We shall meet in 4 weeks. I embrace you heartily. Your sincere friend.

F. CHOPIN

My respects to your Mamma and Papa, and I embrace your brothers.

7.

TO JAN BIAŁOBŁOCKI IN SOKOŁOWO.

[Sokołowo, end of summer 1824 or 1825.]

DEAR, BELOVED JALEK!

We start very early tomorrow. I promised to come to you yesterday, but I couldn’t get to Sokołowo¹ till today. I’m very sorry that I shan’t see you again on these holidays; I must just say goodbye to you on this bit of paper and give you a letter for Panna Kostancja,² which Ludwika³ has sent by post, in a letter to me. I wish you the best of health, and that your leg should get quite well. Kiss your Papa for me and thank him for the decoction, to which I am much indebted. Tell him that I will never forget about it. So, dear Jasia, we have to part without any real goodbye. I kiss you heartily. Remember me, as I remember you.

F. F. CHOPIN

Greetings to Panna Florentina. I should like to follow you to Radomin, but I can’t. I should like to wait; I can’t; for Panna Ludwika⁴ — oh that Panna Ludwika! — is waiting for me. I shall come back quickly, because I want to pack my things at once. Give me a kiss! You would not believe how sorry I am! — I don’t want to go away. Why have I jolted all this way in a carriage to find nobody at home! But at least you will know that I did come. I came to say an affectionate goodbye to you and your Papa.

I don’t myself know what I’ve written; I have never before been in such a situation.

¹ The Białobłockis’ country home near Szafarnia, where he was spending a summer holiday with the Dziewanowskis. [Op.]

² Kostancja Białobłocka.

³ Chopin’s sister Ludwika.

⁴ Ludwika Dziewanowska.

8.

To the Same.

[Warsaw] Friday, 8 July 1825.

DEAR JASIA!

It’s lucky that there is such a good opportunity to write to you. I have to report to you that we are all pretty well; secondly, that the examination is close upon us, just under my nose (in old Poland they used to say: “in my belt”; but as I don’t wear a belt, only a big nose, you have an excellent reason why I should tell you it is under my nose). Don’t expect me to write much to you; I am very busy, and the gentleman who brought the note from Panna Kostancja came this evening and leaves tomorrow. Kresner and Signora Bianchi¹ give a concert on Monday, not in the theatre, but in Elert’s Hall in the German hotel. It’s a concert à la Krogólski² by private subscription; Kresner gave me 12 tickets, but I sold only 3, as the price is 6 złotys.³

I’m sorry you are not here; I have had some very good times with Your Benevolence, gossiping, joking, singing, crying, laughing, fisticuffing, and so on.

In my next letter I will let you know rather more fully, by post, when we shall meet, for we hear that the examination is to be on the 26th of this month. I’m writing after dark; tomorrow I have to get up early, and tonight to sit up and sit up, sit up, still sit up, and perhaps even sit up all night.

Amice, vale! I can’t tell you anything, except that I haven’t yet had a letter from you from Sochaczew. If you haven’t written, a bad wigging awaits you in my next letter.

I must add one thing more to this; that is: that you are to tell me whether your leg is better, and whether you arrived all right.

This letter is like a field where peas and cabbages are mixed up together. There’s no logic, je sais qu’il manque logique; mais que faire, on se hâte, car on n’a pas le temps pour écrire honnêtement. Si c’est comme ca,⁴ forgive me; I’ll send a longer and better letter by post; now I just embrace you heartily.

F. F. CHOPIN

Żywny⁵ and Pani Dekert are well; they don’t know I am writing to you, or would cend messages. My respects to your Papa.

¹ Musicians in one of whose concerts he had taken part.

² A local musician.

³ I złoty = about 11 cents.

⁴ I know that it lacks logic; but what can one do; one hurries because one has not the time to write properly. If that’s the way, [The French phrases in this and in the following letters to Białobłocki are written with Polish spelling.]

⁵ Wojciech Żywny (1756–1840), a Bohemian, Chopin’s first music teacher, much beloved by him and a close friend of the family. [Op.]

9.

To the Same.

[Warsaw, 27 November 1825.]

MON CHER!

La lettre que vous m’avez écrite, rejoiced me, although, comme je vois, it contains sad news. Votre jambe vous fait mal; I grieve for that; not que vous êtes assez gai, as I see from the letter, ça m’a donné de la sauce,¹ and leaves me in the best of humours.

Demain nous finissons notre examination. Je ne prendrai pas de prix, car les lavements le prennent — When I come to you, I will explain this ri...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Preface
• Chopín’s Letters
• Index