20101019 Chopin Poet of the Piano (2)

Chopin: Poet of the Piano 鋼琴詩人蕭邦

The composer in Paris

In 1831, Chopin settled down in Paris, making a living as a composer and highly paid piano teacher. Shy by nature, Chopin avoided playing in public, preferring to perform for small groups instead. His health also began declining during this time. In 1838, he spent the winter in Majorca, an island south of Spain. Chopin was forced out of an apartment there because the landlord feared he had tuberculosis. Though the move was a hardship, Chopin managed to compose 24 pieces of music, called preludes, that winter. Despite his poor health, Chopin was dedicated to composing. An observer once described his creative process. "[The music] came to his piano suddenly… or it sang in his head during a walk. But then would begin the most heartbreaking labor I have ever witnessed. He would shut himself up in his room for days at a time, weeping, pacing, breaking his pens, repeating and changing a single measure a hundred times." In 1849, Chopin’s ill health finally took his life. However, through Chopin’s more than 200 compositions, his passion can still be heard from the piano.

settle down 定居/安頓下來

eg: The couple decided to settle down in New Jersey to raise their children.

=> 這對夫妻決定要定居在紐澤西養育兒女

eg: The kids finally settled down in front of the TV set after running around for almost half-an-hour.

=> 這群小朋友跑來跑去將近半小時後終於在電視機前面安定下來

heartbreaking adj. 令人心碎的/悲痛的

eg: The family's heartbreaking story touched many people, so donations poured in.

=> 這個家庭令人心碎的故事觸動許多人的心，於是許多的捐款湧入。

eg: The heartbreaking scene of the earthquake victims lingers in my head.

=> 地震的受難者令人心痛的情景在我的腦海裡揮之不去

pace v.來回踱步/走來走去

eg: The husband was pacing outside the labor room waiting for the birth of his child.

=> 丈夫在產房外來回踱步等待孩子的誕生

eg: He paced back and forth while waiting for the test results.

=> 他走來走去，等待考試的結果。

pace n. 步調/速度

eg: The pace of the course needs to be adjusted according to the students' ability.

=> 課程的速度要根據學生的能力來調整