Chopin's Polonaise in Ab major, Op. 53

Polonaises are complex works that express the Polish soul and freedom, as well as illustrating the effects of tempo rubato. Chopin wrote his Polonaise in Ab major, Op. 53 in 1842. Often, this polonaise is nicknamed the “heroic” polonaise.

The following characteristics are worth mentioning:

1. As a listener, this piece sounds patriotic. This patriotic sound could stem from the following:

• First, Chopin could be recalling the November Uprising, in Poland, an important historical event that was a reaction to the oppressive rule of Russia, as well as the Polish Great Emigration, based in France. He may have written this piece to commemorate the heroes of Poland.
• Additionally, this piece might have been inspired by Chopin’s love affair with French novelist Aurore Dupin Dudevant, also known by her penname George Sand. He could be depicting the triumphant feeling of this relationship since this was written during the middle of his stay with her and her two children in the Carthusian monastery of Valldemossa on the island of Majorca.

Want to check out the place where Chopin stayed with George Sand & her 2 children? Check this out ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyx_F3TmYEU&feature=related



2. The polonaise rhythm is not immediately present in the opening; instead, fast ascending chromatic diminished fourths in both hands are displayed. Chopin possibly wrote an introduction to set up a mood, to intensify the listener’s expectations. The polonaise rhythm is only present in two sections, and one of them can be found in the left-hand accompaniment.

3. OVERALL STRUCTURE: This piece is in ABA form. The theme in the A section is bold and heroic. The B section opens with six triumphant-sounding arpeggiated chords, which lead into a march-like bass ostinato of descending octaves initially in the key of E major and then in Eb major. This section, in particular, reminds me of Liszt’s Funerailles. Following an interlude of modulations, the theme from the A section returns; however, it is played louder and has a denser texture than the previous theme.

4. To learn this piece, an appropriate level of technical and pianistic skill is required. This piece is not for amateurs, as it consists of extremely fast scales, arpeggios, and octaves; trills played by weaker fingers; tempo rubato; and wide-interval chords.