Piano Concerto No. 2 (Chopin)

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**Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor**

Instrumentation:	Piano Concerto
Key/Time Signature:	f / common
Form:	Concerto
Date of composition:	1830
Opus Number:	21
Movements/Sections:	3
Dedication:	-

Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, was composed in 1830, before he had finished his formal education. Although it is numbered second, it was composed very shortly before his Piano Concerto No. 1. It is considered one of the most beautiful piano concertos of all time, containing virtuosic arpeggios and themes from various nocturnes.

The work contains the three movements typical of instrumental concertos of the period:

Maestoso
Larghetto
Allegro vivace

In the finale, the violins are at one point instructed to play col legno (with the wood of the bow).

[edit] References

Ledbetter, Steven (1994). "Pro Arte: Piano Concerto #2 in F minor" (http://www.proarte.org/notes/chopin.htm). Retrieved May 25, 2005.
Free mp3 download: Seattle Philharmonic, conductor Nico Snel, pianist Neil O'Doan (http://www.pianosociety.com/index.php?id=280). Validated Mar 28, 2006.