Chopin; where he came from, and where he went! – an exploration of some of the music that led to what we call the ‘Chopinesque’.

Many consider Chopin to be a composer who stands alone in music history and indeed piano repertoire – a beautiful melancholic enigma almost in a genre of his own. In this unique course, concert pianist Daniel Grimwood paints a bigger picture, looking at the composers and music that influenced the beloved piano great – and those he himself influenced.

This course is mixed ability and will suit pianists intermediate right through to advanced.

Man sitting at Steinway piano listening to tutor

As well as a one-to-one lesson with Daniel, weekend tuition will include two workshops and the chance to play in and observe two performance masterclasses as well. Workshop themes to be explored are:

Parallel traditions – a Fieldian view of the Chopinesque
Chopin, Liszt and Henselt

Daniel has especially collated a suggested repertoire to choose from in preparation for the course:

A Bach Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier.
A Sonata by Clementi or Dussek.
One of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words for piano.
A pair of Nocturnes each by John Field and Chopin (for example grade 5+ Field No.5 and Chopin Op.37 No.1, or grade 8+ Field No.9 in Eb major, Andantino – numbered so in edition Peters but assigned differently in other editions – and Chopin Op.55 No.2)
A pair of Etudes each by Adolph von Henselt and Chopin (for example grade 5+ Henselt Op.2 No.4 and Chopin Op.25 No.2, or grade 8+ Henselt Op.5 No.10 and Chopin Op.10 No.1).
Something from the Russian Romantics, for example Blumenfeld, Lyapunov, Rachmaninoff, Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky.

It goes without saying to select something from the above, don’t try and learn it all!

Daniel Grimwood playing at grand piano with reflection in the lid

With a repertoire ranging from Elizabethan Virginal music to the works of living composers, Daniel enjoys a solo and chamber career, which has taken him across the globe, performing on the most prestigious concert platforms, including the Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room in London, Saffron Hall, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Symphony Hall Birmingham, the Sage Gateshead, the Three Choirs Festival, the Rachmaninoff and Gnessin Halls in Moscow, the Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as venues in Germany, Austria, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Estonia, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman.

His musical interest started as a 3-year-old playing next door’s piano in Kent, and from the age of 7 he was performing in front of audiences. His training continued with Graham Fitch at the Purcell School, where he also studied violin, viola and composition, giving him a broad appreciation of classical music, and later with Vladimir Ovchinnikov and Peter Feuchtwanger.

Although primarily a pianist, he is frequently to be found performing on harpsichord, organ, viola or composing at his desk. Grimwood is a passionate exponent of the early piano, and has given a recital of Chopin’s Etudes on the composer’s own Pleyel piano.

As a solo recording artist his growing discography ranges from Scriabin on Somm Recordings to Algernon Ashton, a world premiere recording on Toccata Classics. His discs of Liszt and Chopin, performed on an 1851 Erard piano, received a unanimous chorus of praise from the press; the Liszt album was Daily Telegraph CD of the week and Editor’s Choice in Gramophone Magazine. He was the first artist to record on the Edition Peters Sounds label, the complete Fauré Nocturnes album was released to excellent reception in The Sunday Times, which was followed by a disc of solo piano works by Adolph von Henselt, described as “a blizzard of dazzling pianism” by the Observer. His most recent release is a disc of Doreen Carwithen and William Alwyn, also on Edition Peters Sounds, and his account of the complete Henselt Etudes will be released later this year.

As editor Daniel is currently preparing editions of John Field and Adolph von Henselt for Edition Peters.

Daniel regularly performs on live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, and has been featured in BBC Four’s TV documentary series “Revolution and Romance”.

Away from the piano, Daniel is a keen runner and member of Paddock Wood Athletic Club.

On Saturday evening of the course, guests will enjoy the chance to hear Daniel’s wordclass playing in the true essence of a private salon concert – in the main hall of the family home. Daniel will select some of his favourite repertoire discussed earlier in the day to play to guests, including music from Clementi, Field, Chopin, Henselt and Lyapunov.

During their stay, guests will also:

Enjoy access to play on our 9 grand pianos anytime between 7am and 8pm. (There are enough pianos to go round that everyone can play a piano at any given time.)
Join and socialise with a group 8 fellow piano enthusiasts during lunch and dinner.
Dine in style with lunches and three course dinners prepared by our fabulous chef.
Experience the Finchcocks bubble, hailed as a “paradise for pianists” by BBC Music Magazine and stay in a grade 1 listed country manor.

Plus ones are very welcome on our courses, with a room surcharge dependant on whether they are a playing or non-playing guest. Please ask for further details.

For booking enquiries, please contact Jenny by filling in the form below or on 01580 428080.

Hands reaching for biscuits at coffee table

Chopin: Not an island with Daniel Grimwood – mixed ability – sold out

Weekend courses

from £620 (inclusive of accommodation, tuition and all food and wine)

Details

Venue