A VISIT TO THE TOMB OF FREDERIC CHOPIN IN PARIS

                                            

                                         

                                       

                                            

A Visit to  The  Tomb of Frederic Chopin  in Paris.

In Paris, some cemeteries are thronged by tourists who come to see tombs of their favourite writers, musicians ,actors , philosophers and poets. Père-Lachaise happens to be the most visited cemetery in Paris. 

Established in 1804 ,Père-Lachaise is both Paris's most visited  and the  largest cemetery . It is located in the 20th district of Paris city on the Boulevard de Ménilmontant. Metro  trains 2 and  3 stop close to the cemetery . Bus 69 and 71 also  come via this cemetery .The cemetery is about 4 km from Chetelet train junction. .

Notable figures buried at Père Lachaise include Michel Ney, Frédéric Chopin, Émile ,Camille Pissarro, Waldteufel, Édith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Georges Méliès, Marcel Marceau, Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Thierry Fortineau, J.R.D. Tata, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison, Judah H. Benjamin, and Sir Richard Wallace and many more. 

The tombs of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Frederic Chopin are the most famous and most visited in the cemetery. All the three tombstones are  thronged everyday by visitors who bring fresh  flowers and bouquets . We saw the tombstone of the musical genius of the world known as Frederic Chopin ( pronounced as Shopen  ).

Frederic Chopin (1771-1844) was a polish composer who lived as exile in Paris. He is famous for his expressive piano playing and the innovative works he composed for that instrument.While Beethoven was able to extend his work into ever more elaborate and sustained compositions ,  Chopin excelled in smaller but correspondingly inventive, intimate pieces.Chopin's most famous work is  his '24 Preludes' , which he composed back in 1839.Chopin wrote three piano sonatas, two of which are ranked as some amongst the most difficult piano music ever (number 2 and 3) composed.

Chopin  had serious health issues all along his life. He was in love with a singer. Her family rejected her marrying a musician, breaking Chopin's heart. He also had three other loves, all of which ended unhappily and left Chopin sad.Chopin was introspective, and his thoughts tended to focus on his problems.So, given his penchant for introspection and focusing on problems, his art expressed these many sad aspects of his life.

Many of Chopin's works are involved with reworking of forms, procedures and materials drawn from earlier masters, and especially from the Bach and Mozart. However,  Chopin  also created his own unique musical style, often referred to as "Chopinesque".

He was 39 years old when he died of  tuberculosis.Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz also wrote a poem on Chopin that begins with a line ,"Shopen Ka Nagma bajta hai" . I conclude with some lines from this poem of Faiz Anmed Faiz.

Gham ne saanche mein dhala hai

Ikk  baap ke patthar chehre ko

murda bete ke maathe ko

Ikk  maan ne ro kar chooma hai

Chopin’ ka naghma bajta hai

Phir phulon ki rut laut aayi

aur chahne valon ki gardan mein 

jhule daale bahon ne

phir jharne naache 

chhan chhan chhan

ab badal hai na barkha hai

‘Chopin’ ka naghma bajta hai"

My simple English rendering would be this :-

( The stone like face of a father

is cast in grief's mould ,

The forehead of a  dead son

is kissed by his wailing mother.

And the music of  Chopin, keeps playing.

The season of flowers has come once more

Once more the arms of lovers are in embrace.

The waterfalls  dance in music .

Now, no more rains this way ,

Now, no more clouds this  way 

And the music of  Chopin, keeps playing.) 

( Avtar Mota)

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