Chopin Frieze (5)
Artist Company at night.
Quiet office filled with unexpected classical music.
I am sitting alone in a corner left empty in my workspace, with only a chair laid out, listening to Chopin's music playing in the background.
In front of me is a large, white, blank canvas, but I am unable to paint anything on it yet. I haven’t decided what to draw.
Painting Chopin's music.
The first thing I need to decide is which piece of music to paint.
I remember a piece from the movie 'Secret' that had deeply touched me in the past.
'Chopin Etude Op. 10 No.5. The piece with the subtitle 'Black Keys' was an etude practicing with black keys.'
Hmm, is it a bit odd to use a practice piece for painting music?
But of course, it's a Chopin piece, no matter if it's a practice piece.
It's too beautiful a piece to be merely considered for practice.
What else should I consider?
The first piece that comes to mind is Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 no 2, the most famous piece played by Irina.
This piece, called Nocturne, meaning 'night piece,' is probably the most famous of Chopin's compositions. Even those unfamiliar with classical music recognize it immediately upon hearing it.
Moreover, Irina had recited a poem written by a journalist after listening to this piece, so its understanding is deeper.
Of course, Chopin Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9 no 1 is also a beautiful piece.
What else is there?
Ah, there's also Etude Op. 10 No. 3 Tristesse.
It's a sad and beautiful piece by Chopin, known as 'Song of Farewell.'
Chopin's music is delicate, beautiful, and sad.
Like his small stature, as recorded in history, his music has a strong feminine touch.
Another piece that comes to mind is the so-called 'Funeral March,' Chopin piano sonata Op. 35 no 2.
When I first heard this piece, I didn't think of it as a funeral march. It sounded more like music for a grand wedding.
Robert Schumann had said about this piece:
'It starts with dissonance, passes through dissonance, and ends in dissonance. Only Chopin could start and end like this.'
Rachmaninoff was also a very enthusiastic fan of this sonata.
I listened to each piece on the list.
Being shorter than typical classical music, I went through the list in a couple of hours.
Then a thought struck me.
'It's absurd to understand his music without knowing his life.'
The same goes for art in my field.
To interpret a painting, one must understand what was happening in the artist's life at the time.
For instance, let's analyze Van Gogh's 'Starry Night.'
This painting was created while he was in a mental asylum.
The starry night that Van Gogh, groaning under mental anguish, saw.
If we didn't know this, we might have thought that Van Gogh painted such a night sky as part of decorative art.
But we know.
Despite his mental anguish, he could paint such a beautiful night sky because there really was such a night sky in his imagination, being confined in the hospital, unable to see the actual night sky.
Painting is such an act.
It requires an infinite understanding of the subject.
I was deep in thought when I picked up the phone.
It wasn’t too late at night, so a call wouldn’t be rude.
Irina's voice comes through from the other end.
-Hello, Jeong-hoon?
I’ve come a long way.
Knowing the phone number of a world-renowned pianist and having her recognize me right away.
“Irina.”
-What brings you up so late?
“Where are you now?”
-At the theater, practicing.
“Irina, is there a fixed time for your practice at the theater?”
-I always do it from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep. Why?
“May I come and watch?”
-That's fine.
“Can I come now?”
-I'm practicing until 12, is that okay?
It’s nine now.
I'll be there around ten if I leave for the hotel now.
At least I’ll have two hours to watch.
“Yes, I'll come now. I won’t disturb you, just observing from behind.”
-Alright.
After hanging up, I picked up my bag and murmured, thinking of Klimt and Professor Mucha.
“To draw, first you must see. And if you're going to paint music, of course, you must listen first.”
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