Born in Barcelona, Frederic Mompou was a pianist of phenomenal technique, though throughout his life he preferred to compose. His piano works reflect his own personality – essentially quiet, of exquisite quality, and making few demands on the virtuosity of the performer. Many of his scores are built from a series of miniatures, such as the Impressions íntimes. Planys and Pessebres, but the Variations sur un thème de Chopin are his longest and most ambitious work, based on Chopin's well-known Prélude in A major.