Evening star., 1949-12-04

death centennial, it is not
at all surprising that crop
of books about the great Polish
composer has appeared. In point
of interest, they take prece-
dence over all others at this time.
Writers have been inspired to
search archives and to avail
themselves of data released from
Poland and to study more closely
everything written by or pertain
ing to Chopin. Since each author
has his particular angle Of ap-
proach. it is possible to enlarge
the mental picture considerably Of
a personality that has intrigued
and charmed all nations and all
kinds of people for over century.
The most important contribu-
ton to further knowledge Of Cho-
pin, the man and artist, is the
letters from him to Delflna Po-
tocka now given out for the first
time. Both Casimir Wierzynski. in
his 1.-The Life and Death Of Cho-
pin" and Stephen P. Mizwa, in
Frederick Chopin" published by
the Kosciuszko Foundation in New
York. quote from them extensively
but only for musical matters. The
letters will be published soon in
toto but heretofore they have been
carefully guarded by the Komar
family. Delphina was Countess
Konstancja Komar before her
marriage. Chopin's admQnition to
her was, Destroy my letters be-
cause if some one got hold OF them
you would be compromised and I
might get into no end Of trouble
and embarrassment"
In the excerpts from this init
mate correspondence. the real
Chopin is revealed. His ideas on
music, on his own work. his fellow
artists, the great immortals, the
world about him and even his per-
sonal character are discussed.
These letters show also that the
bond between himself and Del
fina was much deeper than even
that binding him to George Sand
and that he felt both free and
certain of sympathetic under
standing in sharing his every
thought with her.
Chopin Myths Proved False.
The intention is also present In
the several books on the composer
to reveal the falsity Of many
myths that have been long ac-
cepted as defining the character
of Chopin. The tendency to try
to penetrate his genius is notice
able as well and the new thoughts
on his music and its interpreta-
ton should be beneficial to musi-
clan and layman. The deepest
impression will be left by Wier-
zynski's detailed biography.
The author is Poland's cele-
brated poet. His first : hand
knowledge of customs, environ
ment and history, together with .
sensitive handling of the facts IN
a. fluent and poetic style, makes
this absorbing reading. He be-
gins his story with Chopin's
father, Nicholas. and is one OF
the few writer's to make a thor
ough study of this Frenchman
who became so Polish in his senti-
ments. It also explains how his
gifted son had so few French
characteristics in him. But what
is of greater import, in the almost
day-by-day narrative, is the inti-
mate background the author sup
plies. Here, for the first time. the
boyhood of Chopin is given: in
detail and its profound import
ance in his later development is
made understandable.
Give Translation on Chopin.
Concerned with the penetration
into the subtletry of Chopin's mu-
sic is Andre Gide's Notes on
Chopin" This small volume by
the French winner of the Nohe.
Prize, translated by Bernard
Frechtman, is collection Of, his
own thoughts and his own an
alysis of certain compositions. It
is purely personal and part Of
it's charm lies in its informal,
intimate style. But the author.
a pianist as we'll, has made some
splendid discoveries that may
start musicians thinking In new
vein-even if they do not agree
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