Étude Op. 10, No. 3

Album: Mommy and Me Adventures in Classics (1831)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Polish composer Frédéric Chopin wrote this piece shortly after he moved to Paris. It was later dubbed "Tristesse" - meaning "sadness" - although not by the composer. It is highly regarded as a manifestation of Chopin's love for his home country of Poland. In later years one of Chopin's pupils, Adolf Gutman, reported that during a class, while he was demonstrating this piece, the composer broke down in tears crying "Oh my homeland!"
  • Some music critics believe the composer may have been thinking of Konstancja Gladkowska, a student singer at the Warsaw Conservatory when he composed this piece. Before Chopin emigrated from Poland, he was very much in love with her.
  • Chopin himself is reported to have said of this piece: "In all my life I have never again been able to find such a beautiful melody."
  • The "Tristesse" melody has been extensively borrowed by many popular performers, including Jo Stafford for her 1950 hit "No Other Love." Such diverse performers as Serge Gainsbourg, Sarah Brightman and Ken Dodd have also used the theme.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.