Music and Literature - The Awakening by Kate Chopin

 

Bitter melodies and melancholic chords make up the sounds of such a complex classical work.

        It has been about two years now since I took my last piano lesson, but before, it had been a near-weekly occurrence since I was only four years old. It is with fond memories I look back on my time at the piano, as well as is a local church pew or retirement home listening to the soft arpeggios and sharp chords of my fellow students. While at the time, I was a rather, for lack of better words, insolent child when it came to playing classical music, I always did make an exception for my favorite of the composers, Chopin. I have always been fond of his unique melodies, the mix of sharp yet soft notes he proposed to us musicians, or wannabe musicians forced to play his music by our beloved teachers. Unfortunately for me, my hands were always much too small to reach the large intervals required to master a Chopin piece, so I am far better off listening or, when I want to play, sticking to Beethoven. 

    Recently for class, I was re-reading The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I was brought back to my piano days as Chopin pieces were played, and Edna continued to be compelled by Mademoiselle Reiz's playing. This novel undoubtedly uses a very naturalistic atmosphere to set the scene and demonstrate many of the emotions Edna feels through her journey of liberation and, *spoiler alert*, her ultimate demise. I wanted to add to this atmosphere by putting together some of my favorite pieces on the piano to add to the atmospheric notions of the work, as well as to pay homage to the masterful piano player, Mademoiselle Reiz.

    There is obviously a lot of music to choose from, so I decided to go with simply what felt right for the novel. Obviously, there is plenty of Chopin as he is mentioned multiple times throughout, and of course, it is rather fitting we assign Chopin to complement Chopin. Other pieces are reminiscent of the time period, romantic composers popular at the time. Others are simply the right amount of mellow and dreamy, with sharp undertones and hints of sadness and deep despair. I wanted to capture the essence of Edna's emotions, the deep unhappiness and discontent she feels in her life, and the moments when she feels light, liberated, and free. Below are my choices for the novel. If you wish to, play them while reading to really feel the atmosphere Chopin (both of them) creates. Until next time dear readers. 

Xoxo,

Emma 

The Unofficial The Awakening Playlist

Fantasie Impromptu Op 66 - Chopin 

Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante in E-Flat, Op.22: Andante spianato. Tranquillo - Chopin

24 Préludes, Op. 28, No. 4 in E Minor: Largo - Chopin

Nocturne in E-flat major No. 2, Op. 9 - Chopin

Liebestraum No. 3 in A-Flat Major, S. 541 No. 3: Notturno: O lied, so lang du lieben kannst - Liszt

Liefdeslied (Widmung), S. 566 - Liszt

Nocturne No. 5 in B flat major - Field 

Clair De Lune - Debussy

Reverie - Debussy

Deux Arabesques, L. 66, CD 74: I. Première Arabesque - Debussy

Three Mazurkas, Op. 50: No. 3 in C-Sharp Minor. Moderato - Chopin

Nocturne, L. 82, CD 89 - Debussy

Waltz No. 19 in A Minor, Op. Post. B. 150 - Chopin