Chopin is a Great Composer for piano. In this particular field he could be
included in the company of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.  If you do
not agree, please read on.

There are two general causes of Chopin's underestimate:

1.  Some may not be inclined to devote much time listening to him if they
are not positively disposed to piano music, or have a preference for the
orchestra.

2.  "piano music" is somewhat of a lesser genre - the full scope and range
of the symphony cannot be experienced from a solo piano (quoted from a
website I lost url to)

Chopin's tragedy was he wrote only for piano. You see, if a composer
couldn't write big orchestra works, he shouldn't be considered serious.
What a lame thing: a composer who hasn't written a piece for violin, oboe,
orchestra and castanets!  Oh my, he tried and he failed, haha.  People who
claim to be serious connoisseurs are fond of castigating Chopin.  Sweat
Chopin's tunes may be needed only by excited mademoiselles and piano
virtuosi to exercise their fingers.  Really, when I listen to the preludes
and read Mr Mullenger's description, I can't help laughing.  Mr Mullenger
suggests ten attributes, Chopin's music has all those attributes and then
the author calls the poor Frederik a famous composer.  Just famous.  Like
Spice Girls.  Ugh...

Juozas Rimas