More Chopin!

Polonaise in F-sharp Minor

Like many of the other polonaises Chopin wrote, this one has a noble and majestic quality. It starts with a virtuosic introduction of octaves (with harmonic ambiguity) leading to the main theme of the piece (we finally do arrive on the tonic!). At the end of the first section, Chopin cleverly uses the F natural to lead into the next area, which is in B-flat minor. After that Chopin constantly switches back and forth between these two tonal areas before a brand new section of what sounds like the drum roll with single, monotone A as the "melody". The theme in the B section returns briefly in this section before the drum roll continues into a Mazurka section. The jerky rhythms (emphasis on the second beats) gives an unsteady feel (hence the jerkiness). The grace notes add more flavors and flares to the dance. This "hopping around" from section to section gives this piece a somewhat fantasy-like characteristic.

Barcarolle

A Barcarolle is a folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers (Venetian sculling boats). The beginning rocking motion of the left hand accompaniment shows the "rocking back and forth" of the boats in the water. As we discussed in class, the melodic thirds, which is used quite frequently, have an Italian quality. Chopin also uses the melodic sixths throughout the piece. Notice the left hand rocking motion never stops, but just written in different ways. The right hand decorated melody gives that nice free, improvisational quality we see so often in Chopin's music.

Mazurkas, Op. 59

Each of the three pieces presents a differe flavor: the first one melancholy and otherworldly; the second simple and sweet; the third majestic and full of energy. All three are harmonically complex with chromaticism playing a big part in the music (i.e. the chromatic passage leading to the coda at the end of the second one). Because of the dance nature and the emphasis on the second beats, even if it is in the minor mode and has a sentimental and melancholy melody, it still sounds somewhat playful. In the second and third one, it has a hint of the polonaise, with it's marching-like, majestic quality. The melody (never stays in one place, always moving up and down the keyboard), along with complex harmonies, giving it a 'weaving in-and-out" feel to the music.