Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), one of the most profoundly original composers in history, was not at all a traditional "Romantic" musician; in fact, most of his music defines a separate category all its own. Born in Zelazowa Wola, a small city near Warsaw, Poland on February 22, 1810, Chopin first studied the piano at the Warsaw School of Music, and was quite proficient at it by his early teens. By the late 1820s, Chopin had won a great reputation as a piano virtuoso and composer of piano pieces.
   Chopin was a revolutionary light in Romantic music, the ultimate craftsman of whimsical melody and heart-rending harmony. In the structure and form of his compositions, he is quite alone; his sense of balance and architecture in music was not particularly related to the Classical or budding Romantic tradition, but seemed to spring from some unknown well-source.
   Chopin composed his piano works during the happiest times of his life. His 2nd Piano Concerto which is based on 3 parts, begins with peace. The second part (Largherro) is a dreamy interlude. Here Chopin tells one of his friends his feelings towards Constans Gladkovska. The 3rd part (Allegro Vivace) ends with vibrant rhytmic dance melodies.
   Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) was one of the major composers of the twentieth century. Born in Warsaw in 1913, he showed prodigious musical and intellectual talent from an early age. Lutoslawski's contribution to the musical world was enormous and his loss in February 1994, at the age of 81, will continue to be deeply felt.
   Lutoslawski composed his "Concerto for Orchestra" in 1954 which is based on 3 different parts. It is a dynamic instrumental work in which the listeners can find both fun, misery and the theme of death. The "Toccata" which is the dynamic high point of the work, symbolizes happiness. The work ends with "Corrale" which symbolizes life itself.
   Polish composer, conductor, writer, photographer, and mountain climber Mieczyslaw Karlowicz was born in Wiszniewo on December 11, 1876. His early compositions include short piano pieces, the Serenade Op. 2 for string orchestra, "Muzyka do bialej golabki" ("Music to the White Dove") Op.6 for full orchestra, and various songs which were published in two collections as Op.1 and Op.3.
   His early creations of symphonic poems and songs exibited great talent, which brought about the hopes that he would develop into a major Polish composer--possibly of an even greater stature than Szymanowski. Unfortunately, his untimely death in the Tatra Mountains buried those hopes.
   His "Eternal Songs" is a tragedy full of sorrow. The piece is based on 3 parts which are "Andante-Lento" , "Andante Con Moto", and "Moderato", which is the most dramatic part of the work. It ends with the music symbolizing the theme of fate.