A biography of the piece.

1. Berceuse Op.57 Frederic Chopin
(1810~1849)
Chopin, a Polish composer, is one of the great masters of Romantic music. Even though
he only lived for a short time, he composed many great works for solo piano. Among his
solo pieces, the longer works are ballades and scherzos. Other works like impromptus,
mazurkas, nocturnes, waltzes, étude, prélude and the polonaises are of different lengths.
Chopin only wrote two solos with descriptive titles, the Op. 57, Berceuse in D flat, and
the Barcarolle in F#, Op. 60.
The Berceuse in D-flat was written between 1843~1844, dedicated to his friend’s one-
and-a half-year old daughter, the singer Pauline Viardot. It is in 6/8, in the style of a
lullaby or a cradle song. Originally Chopin called it the Variations because it has 16
variations. The melody in the right-hand part is accompanied by an ostinato, fixed bass
accompaniment in the left throughout the whole piece. The variations which followed the
main melody continuously are like multiple patterns that form inside a kaleidoscope. The
soft, smooth and sustained quality makes it a sweet and imaginational dream like piece.
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