List of compositions by Frédéric Chopin by genre facts for kids

This is a list of compositions by genre. For another list, see List of compositions by Frédéric Chopin by opus number.

Frédéric Chopin at 25, painted by Maria Wodzińska in 1835.

Frédéric Chopin was a famous composer from Poland, known for his beautiful piano music. Most of his pieces were written just for the piano, but he also created some works for piano and orchestra, like his two piano concertos. He even wrote some chamber music that included other instruments.

Chopin's longer pieces, such as his sonatas, the four exciting scherzi, the four dramatic ballades, the Fantaisie in F minor, and the Barcarolle in F-sharp major, are very important in piano music. His shorter works are also very popular, including his lively polonaises, traditional mazurkas, elegant waltzes, free-flowing impromptus, and dreamy nocturnes.

Two very important collections of his music are the Études, Op. 10 and 25. These are like musical exercises that are also beautiful concert pieces. Another key collection is the 24 Preludes, Op. 28, which are short pieces arranged in a special order of musical keys. Chopin also wrote many songs using Polish words, and chamber pieces like a piano trio and a cello sonata.

When you see "Op." next to a piece, it means "Opus number." This is a way to number a composer's works, usually in the order they were published. Other numbers you might see, like B, KK, A, C, D, E, P, S, or WN, are from different music experts who have cataloged Chopin's works.

Piano Solo Music

Chopin wrote most of his music for the piano. Here are some of the types of pieces he composed:

Ballades

Ballades are long, dramatic pieces that often tell a story or create a strong mood. Chopin wrote four of them:

Op. 23: Ballade No. 1 in G minor (written 1835–36)
Op. 38: Ballade No. 2 in F major (written 1836–39)
Op. 47: Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major (written 1841)
Op. 52: Ballade No. 4 in F minor (written 1842–43)

Études

Études are pieces designed to help pianists practice and improve their skills. However, Chopin's Études are so beautiful and challenging that they are often played in concerts. Chopin himself never gave them nicknames, but people have made them up over time.

Op. 10, 12 Études:

Étude in C major (1830)
Étude in A minor (1830)
Étude in E major (1832)
Étude in C-sharp minor (1832)
Étude in G-flat major (1830)
Étude in E-flat minor (1830)
Étude in C major (1832)
Étude in F major (1829)
Étude in F minor (1829)
Étude in A-flat major (1829)
Étude in E-flat major (1829)
Étude in C minor (1831)

Op. 25, 12 Études:

Étude in A-flat major (1836)
Étude in F minor (1836)
Étude in F major (1836)
Étude in A minor (1832–1834)
Étude in E minor (1832–1834)
Étude in G-sharp minor (1832–1834)
Étude in C-sharp minor (1836)
Étude in D-flat major (1832–1834)
Étude in G-flat major (1832–1834)
Étude in B minor (1832–1834)
Étude in A minor (1834)
Étude in C minor (1836)

Three New Études (1839):

Étude in F minor
Étude in A-flat major
Étude in D-flat major

Impromptus

An impromptu is a piece of music that sounds like it was made up on the spot, even though it's carefully composed.

Op. 29: Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat major (1837)
Op. 36: Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp major (1839)
Op. 51: Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat major (1843)
Op. 66 (published after his death): Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor (1834/1835)

Mazurkas

The mazurka is a lively Polish folk dance. Chopin wrote many mazurkas, bringing the spirit of his homeland into his piano music.

Op. 6, Four Mazurkas (1830–32)
Op. 7, Five Mazurkas (1830–32)
Op. 17, Four Mazurkas (1833)
Op. 24, Four Mazurkas (1835)
Op. 30, Four Mazurkas (1837)
Op. 33, Four Mazurkas (1838)
Op. 41, Four Mazurkas (1839–40)
Op. 50, Three Mazurkas (1842)
Op. 56, Three Mazurkas (1844)
Op. 59, Three Mazurkas (1845–46)
Op. 63, Three Mazurkas (1846-47)

Mazurkas Published After His Death

Some of Chopin's mazurkas were published after he passed away.

Op. posth. 67, Four Mazurkas (published 1855)
Op. posth. 68, Four Mazurkas (published 1855). The Mazurka in F minor (No. 4) was his very last composition.

Nocturnes

Nocturnes are gentle, dreamy pieces, often inspired by the night.

Op. 9, Three Nocturnes (1830–32)
Op. 15, Three Nocturnes (1830–33)
Op. 27, Two Nocturnes (1835-6)
Op. 32, Two Nocturnes (1836–37)
Op. 37, Two Nocturnes (1838–40)
Op. 48, Two Nocturnes (1840–41)
Op. 55, Two Nocturnes (1843–44)
Op. 62, Two Nocturnes (1846)

Nocturnes Published After His Death

Op. posth. 72: Nocturne in E minor (1827–29)
Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Lento con gran espressione (1830)
Nocturne in C minor (1837)

Polonaises

A polonaise is another proud and stately Polish dance. Chopin's polonaises are grand and heroic.

Op. 26, Two Polonaises (1833–36)
Op. 40, Two Polonaises (1838–40)
Op. 44: Polonaise in F-sharp minor (1840–41)
Op. 53: Polonaise in A-flat major (1842–43)
Op. 61: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major (1846)

Polonaises Published After His Death

Polonaise in G minor (1817; this was his very first composition!)
Op. posth. 71, Three Polonaises:
- Polonaise in D minor (1825)
- Polonaise in B-flat major (1828)
- Polonaise in F minor (1828)
Five Polonaises without opus numbers, including one called Adieu à Guillaume Kolberg (1826).

Préludes

Préludes are short pieces, often used as an introduction to other music, but Chopin's preludes are complete works on their own.

Op. 28, 24 Préludes: This is a famous collection of short pieces, each in a different key.

Prélude in C major (1839)
Prélude in E minor (1838)
Prélude in D-flat major (1838–1839) - This one is known as the "Raindrop Prelude."
Prélude in B-flat minor (1838–1839)
Prélude in C minor (1838–1839)

Op. 45: Prélude in C-sharp minor (1841)

Rondos

A rondo is a musical form where a main theme keeps coming back, like a chorus in a song.

Op. 1: Rondo in C minor (1825)
Op. 5: Rondo à la mazur in F major (1826) - This rondo has the feel of a mazurka.
Op. 16: Rondo in E-flat major (1833)

Scherzos

A scherzo is a fast, lively, and often playful piece. Chopin's scherzos are powerful and dramatic.

Op. 20: Scherzo No. 1 in B minor (1831–35)
Op. 31: Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor (1836–37)
Op. 39: Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor (1839–40)
Op. 54: Scherzo No. 4 in E major (1842–43)

Sonatas

A sonata is a longer piece, usually with several movements (sections) that have different speeds and moods.

Op. 4 (published after his death): Piano Sonata No. 1 in C minor (1828)
Op. 35: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, also known as the Funeral March Sonata (1839–40). The famous Funeral March part was composed in 1837.
Op. 58: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor (1844–45)

Variations

Variations are pieces where a main musical idea (a theme) is repeated many times, but each time it's changed in a new and interesting way.

Op. 2: Variations on "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's opera Don Giovanni for piano and orchestra (1827)
Op. 12: Variations brillantes in B-flat major on a tune from Hérold's opera Ludovic (1833)

Waltzes

A waltz is a graceful dance in triple time. Chopin's waltzes are elegant and often very virtuosic.

Op. 18: Grande valse brillante in E-flat major (1833)
Op. 34, Trois grandes valses brillantes:

Waltz in A-flat major (1835)
Waltz in A minor (1831)
Waltz in F major (1838)

Op. 42: Waltz in A-flat major (1840)
Op. 64, Three Waltzes:

Waltz in D-flat major, often called the Minute Waltz (1847)
Waltz in C-sharp minor (1847)
Waltz in A-flat major (1840 or 1847)

Waltzes Published After His Death

Many of Chopin's waltzes were published after he died.

Op. posth. 69:

Waltz in A-flat major, L'Adieu (1835)
Waltz in B minor (1829)

Op. posth. 70:

Waltz in G-flat major (1832)
Waltz in F minor (1841)
Waltz in D-flat major (1829)

Waltz in E minor (1830)
Waltz in E major (around 1830)
Waltz in A minor (1843–1848)

Other Pieces for Solo Piano

Chopin also wrote many other unique pieces for solo piano:

Op. 19: Boléro in A minor (1833) - A Spanish dance style.
Op. 22: Andante spianato in G major (1831–4) - A calm, flowing piece.
Op. 43: Tarantelle in A-flat major (1841) - A very fast Italian dance.
Op. 46: Allegro de Concert in A major (1832–41)
Op. 49: Fantaisie in F minor (1841) - A piece with a free, imaginative structure.
Op. 57: Berceuse in D-flat major (1844) - A gentle lullaby.
Op. 60: Barcarolle in F-sharp major (1845–46) - A piece inspired by Venetian gondola songs.

Other Pieces Published After His Death

Op. posth. 72:

Marche funèbre in C minor (1827) - A funeral march.
Three Écossaises (1826) - Lively Scottish dances.

Cantabile in B-flat major (1834)
Largo in E-flat major (1837)
Fugue in A minor (1841)
Album Leaf (Moderato) in E major (1843)
2 Bourrées (1846) - A French folk dance.
Galopp in A-flat (Galop Marquis) (1846) - A fast, energetic dance.

Piano and Orchestra Music

Chopin wrote several pieces where the piano plays with a full orchestra.

Concertos

A piano concerto is a large musical work for a solo piano and an orchestra.

Op. 11: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor (1830)
Op. 21: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor (1829–1830)

Other Pieces with Orchestra

Op. 2: Variations on "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, in B-flat major (1827)
Op. 13: Fantasy on Polish Airs, in A major (1828) - This piece uses melodies from Polish folk songs.
Op. 14: Rondo à la Krakowiak, in F major (1828) - A rondo in the style of a Polish dance called the Krakowiak.
Op. 22: Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante, in E-flat major (1830–1831) - This piece starts with a calm piano solo and then becomes a grand polonaise with the orchestra.

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments, meant to be played in a smaller room or "chamber."

Cello and Piano

Op. 3: Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C major (1829–1830)
Grand Duo concertant in E major (1832) - This piece was written by Chopin and another composer, Auguste Franchomme.
Op. 65: Cello Sonata in G minor (1845–46)

Violin, Cello and Piano

Op. 8: Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in G minor (1830)

Voice and Piano

Chopin also composed songs for a singer with piano accompaniment, mostly using Polish poems.

Songs Published After His Death

Op. posth. 74, 17 Songs (1829–1847; all in Polish)

"The Wish" ("Życzenie") (1829)
"Spring" ("Wiosna") (1838)
"The Sad River" ("Smutna rzeka") (1831)
"Merrymaking" ("Hulanka") (1830)
"Handsome Lad" ("Śliczny chłopiec") (1841)
"The Warrior" ("Wojak") (1830)
"My Darling" ("Moja pieszczotka") (1837)
"The Ring" ("Pierścień") (1836)
"The Bridegroom" ("Narzeczony") (1831)
"Lithuanian Song" ("Piosnka litewska") (1831)
"Leaves are Falling, Hymn from the Tomb" ("Śpiew z mogiłki") (1836)