[6] One of these pupils, Casimir Wodzynski, a property owner, who is still living, often tells this story.
[7] Chopin generally improvised in the dark, frequently at night, as then the mind is undisturbed by outward impressions. Then he would bury himself in the theme heart and soul, and develope from it tone-pictures full of lofty inspiration and fairy-like poetry.
[8] Another kind of national song is the product of the trained musician, and being, from its original, majestic, war-like or sentimental character, easily understandable, it is readily remembered and rapidly diffused. Everyone sings it to the best of his ability; but the less-educated, even when they delight in a work of art, seldom inquire who created it. For example, many people are not aware that Henry Carey was the author and composer of “God Save the King.”
[9] Julian Klaczko, a contributor to the Revue des Deux Mondes.
[10] Brunner and Hoffman were the inventors.
[11] Alexander Rembielinski, an excellent pianist, who died young.
[12] Julius Fontana, pianist and composer, was born in Warsaw, in 1810, and educated with Chopin at the Conservatoire, under Elsner. In 1830 he entered the army and soon became a lieutenant of artillery. After the insurrection he emigrated to France; some years later settled in America, but in 1850 returned to Paris, where he died in 1870. He was an almost daily guest of Chopinʼs, and knew exactly what compositions were published at that time; the facts that he gives in the preface to his edition of Chopinʼs works are, therefore, trustworthy. Besides many smaller compositions, (Walzes, Studies, Caprices, Fantasias) which he wrote and published in Paris, he published “Polish National Melodies” (London); “Comments on Polish Orthography” (Leipsic, 1866); and “Popular Astronomy” (Posen, 1869.)
[13] It appears as op. 73, in Fontanaʼs collection of the posthumous works.
[14] Ernemann was a music master, and Bucholtz a pianoforte maker, in Warsaw.
[15] Professor Jedrzejewicz, Chopinʼs brother-in-law, born 1803, died in Warsaw, 1853.