{"product_id":"chasing-chopin-a-musical-journey-across-three-centuries-four-countries-and-a-half-dozen-revolutions-9781501188725","title":"Chasing Chopin: A Musical Journey Across Three Centuries, Four Countries, and a Half-Dozen Revolutions","description":"\u003cb\u003eA modern take on a classical icon: this \"luminous book\" (Susan Orlean, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Library Book\u003c\/i\u003e) tells the story of when, where, and how Chopin composed his most famous work, uncovering many surprises along the way and showing how his innovative music still animates and thrives in our culture centuries later.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this widely-praised book, Annik LaFarge presents a very different Fr d ric Chopin from the melancholy, sickly, Romantic figure that has predominated for so long. The artist she discovered is, instead, a purely independent--and endlessly relevant--spirit: an innovator who created a new musical language; an autodidact who became a spiritually generous, trailblazing teacher; a stalwart patriot during a time of revolution, pandemic, and exile. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOne of America's foremost pianists, Jeremy Denk, wrote in \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e: \"It is almost impossible for me to imagine a world in which  Chopin's \"Funeral March\"] is both fresh and tragic, where its death is real. LaFarge's charming and loving new book attempts to recover this world...This book took me into many unexpected corners...For a book about death, it's bursting with life and lively research.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this \"entertaining dual music history and memoir\" (\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e), a \"seamless blend of the musical and literary verve\" (\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews, \u003c\/i\u003estarred review) LaFarge \"brilliantly traces the footsteps of Chopin's life\" (Scott Yoo, host of PBS \u003ci\u003eNow Hear This\u003c\/i\u003e) during the three years, 1837-1840, when he composed the now-iconic Funeral March, using its composition story to illuminate the key themes of Chopin's life. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs part of her research into Chopin's world, then and now, LaFarge visited piano makers, monuments, churches, and archives; she talked to scholars, jazz musicians, video game makers, music teachers, theater directors, and of course dozens of pianists. She has given us, says pianist, author, and \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ecolumnist Michael Kimmelman, \"a tour-de-force and journey of the soul.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt is an engrossing, \"impeccably researched\" (\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e) work of musical discovery and an artful portrayal of a man whose work and life continue to inspire artists and cultural innovators in astonishing ways. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn acclaimed companion website, \u003ci\u003eWhyChopin\u003c\/i\u003e, presents links to each piece of music mentioned in the book, organized by chapter, along with photos, resources, and more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLaFarge, Annik:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Annik LaFarge is a writer, photographer, lecturer, and author of the much-praised \u003ci\u003eOn the High Line: Exploring America's Most Original Urban \u003c\/i\u003ePark, winner of the IPPY award for Travel Guidebook. She has been writing about the High Line and urban landscapes since 2009 on the blog \u003ci\u003eLivin The High Line\u003c\/i\u003e. Her most recent book is \u003ci\u003eChasing Chopin: A Musical Journey Across 3 Centuries, 4 Countries, and a Half Dozen Revolutions.\u003c\/i\u003e She lives in New York City.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50642802213138,"sku":"9781501188725","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5d194050-e4c8-45e5-b6f5-8b15f818433e.jpg?v=1737259727","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/chasing-chopin-a-musical-journey-across-three-centuries-four-countries-and-a-half-dozen-revolutions-9781501188725","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}