Chopin and the Taste of Courage
By Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim
This blog is born from the two places that have shaped my life the most: the piano and the kitchen. I’ve spent decades at the keyboard — performing, teaching, and listening deeply — and just as many years at the table, cooking meals and raising two daughters with my husband.
To me, these aren’t separate worlds. Music and food have always belonged together, both offering comfort, creativity, and joy.
Music & Food: The Same Language
Think about it: a piece of music and a dish both rely on rhythm, timing, balance, and contrast. A perfectly placed pause in a phrase is as essential as the right dash of salt in a stew. A fiery passage in Chopin can feel like spice on the tongue; a tender melody can soothe like a warm bowl of soup.
One nourishes the spirit, the other nourishes the body — together they become the art of living well.
Fantaisie-Impromptu: A Personal Taste of Courage
For my very first post, I want to share something close to my heart: my performance of Chopin – Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66.
This piece is all about contrast — a whirlwind of passion in the outer sections, wrapped around a lyrical, dreamlike middle. To me, it’s like tasting bold and delicate flavors in one dish. The intensity makes the calm more moving, just as the sweetness in a recipe shines brighter when balanced with spice.
But this piece also carries a personal story.
A Risk, A Stage, A Turning Point
I was fifteen when I first heard the Fantaisie-Impromptu on the radio. I fell instantly in love. Though my teacher wanted me to focus on larger competition pieces, I couldn’t resist. Quietly, I taught myself the piece in secret.
When my high school — nearly 2,000 students — held its annual music competition, I entered with the Fantaisie-Impromptu. What I didn’t expect? My teacher was chairman of the jury.
My heart pounded. But there was no turning back.
I played. I poured out everything I had — the restless drive of the outer sections, the dreamy calm of the middle, the fire of the coda.
When the last chord faded, there was silence… then applause.
To my astonishment, I won. More importantly, I earned something greater than a prize: my teacher’s respect.
Welcome to the Sonare Table
This is the spirit of the Sonare Table — where reflections, recipes, and performances are woven together, not just as art forms but as everyday life.
I hope you’ll join me here, where music meets flavor, and both find their way to the heart.
🎧 Watch the Performance:
👉 Chopin – Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66
