176 years ago today, October 17, 1849 (September 2, 1849 in the lunar calendar), Polish composer Chopin passed away. Chopin was born on March 1, 1810 in Zelazova Wola, a suburb of Warsaw, Poland. He began learning piano at the age of 6 and began playing in public at the age of 8. In 1824, Chopin studied music theory under German musician Elsner and president of the Warsaw Conservatory of Music. In 1829, Chopin graduated from the Warsaw Conservatory of Music. At that time, the Polish national liberation movement was reaching its peak. The national struggle against foreign slavery and for freedom and independence had a profound impact on the thoughts of young Chopin and cultivated his national sentiments and patriotic enthusiasm. In 1830, Chopin left Warsaw and went abroad for further study. He left the motherland forever. In 1932, he passed through Stuttgart on his way to Paris. He was deeply shocked when he learned that the Warsaw Uprising had been suppressed by Tsarist Russia and the fall of Warsaw. After arriving in Paris, he gave up plans to go to London and settled in Paris, where he engaged in piano performance, teaching and creative activities. Here, in addition to close interactions with Polish expatriates in exile in Paris, he also met the outstanding Hungarian musician Liszt, the famous French litterateur Georges Sang, and well-known figures such as Heine and Mitzkiewicz. Chopin's works were deeply influenced by the national independence movement of the motherland and have extremely profound national, ideological and noble revolutionary content. His creations always focus on describing the life and heroism of the Polish people. Most of his works express strong patriotic enthusiasm and the Polish people's desire for freedom. Chopin's music is unmatched in tranquility, delicacy, lyrical and beautiful. His piano music includes various types, the most intoxicating of which is his "Nocturne", which is an extremely beautiful piece of music. It is lyrical, contemplative and melancholy, and the tune is full of singing. Chopin wrote a total of 20 Nocturne in his life. Another piece of his music is called "Prelude", which is slightly shorter than Nocturne, but more lyrical. It is said that these preludes were composed by Chopin on the rainy island of Majorka. His "Prelude to Raindrops" in D flat major is a well-known prelude. The "etudes", which are larger and colorful than the prelude, are another valuable asset of Chopin's creation. Originally, etudes were written for practice, but Chopin gave it poetic and touching artistic life in his etudes, giving people endless enjoyment of beauty, such as "Butterfly Etudes" and "Revolutionary Etudes". The most famous of Chopin's works is his various dance music, such as waltz, polonaise, mazurka, etc. Waltz originated in Germany, but Chopin turned it into noble and elegant music for people to appreciate. Therefore, his waltz is different from ordinary waltz, such as "The Leaving Waltz". Chopin also wrote some ballahs, chevores, sonatas, and concertos. The second movement of the "Funeral March" in one of the sonata he wrote is a well-known lament. The famous concerto he wrote is even more colorful and famous. On October 17, 1849, Chopin died in his Paris apartment. Before his death, he asked his relatives to transport his heart back to his native Poland for burial.