Chopin's Polonaise in Ab major, Op. 61

After four years, Chopin’s last Polonaise-Fantasie in Ab major, Op. 61 was published in 1846. The piece was dedicated to his pupil, Anne Veyret, who was married to Charles Veyret, a friend of both Chopin and George Sand. By examining this piece, we can learn more about Chopin’s compositional techniques.

Interesting characteristics to explore:
1. After listening to the two polonaises, there seems to be a pattern as to how Chopin composed these works:

• The polonaise is preceded by an introduction and finished with a more developed coda.
• Each repetition of the theme has a different texture (e.g., the melody is restated in octaves or chords, or with an additional melodic line, etc.).
• Sudden changes in tempo (e.g., Lento) or any other means of expression (e.g., Agitato) are often used.
• Ternary form; frequent key changes; complex harmony

2. The long and improvisatory introduction sounds mysterious and gives an impressionistic color.

3. The Lento section somewhat resembles a Trio section, due to its lyrical, chordal melody. Do the six opening arpeggiated chords mean something to you? I observed the same pattern in Opus 53. The class should consider this as well.

4. Increased use of polyphonic writing, harmonic richness, and personal expression (fantasy); the brilliant, virtuosic style of his early polonaises has evolved into more lyrical expression through the use of formal and textural transformations.

5. What strikes my eyes when following the score is the double trills before a partial reprise of the introduction. The passage looks quite interesting.

Concern: I am sure that performers with excellent piano technique and extensive knowledge of music history can play this piece with little difficulty. If the performer lacks inadequate knowledge of the Polish patriotic spirit, would he or she still be able to deliver the profound artistic expression that Chopin intended to convey? Perhaps it is necessary to learn and understand the culture, history, and customs of Chopin’s homeland in order to empathize with his genuine nationalistic spirit, evidenced when he wrote these pieces.