Musical Experimenter Frédéric Chopin

Polish composer Frédéric Chopin was a musical experimenter who continually pushed the envelope pianistically. For example, prior to Chopin, an étude was just a little piano study used mostly for practicing technique. Chopin brought us the concert étude, a staple in the piano repertoire today, and he recast Polish folk music into piano form, catapulting both into the world arena.