Description
Composed in 1832-33 and published in 1834, the four mazurkas of Op.17 move from bright, dance-like character pieces to a wistful finale. The closing fourth mazurka is especially notable for its quiet, fading ending, which reaches beyond simple dance music into genuine lyrical expression. Together they show Chopin's growing sophistication within the genre, and the contrasts between the four pieces come through most clearly when heard as a complete set.
Works based on Polish folk dance, infused with Chopin's longing for his homeland — deeply personal music.
Browse all songs in Mazurkas →About the Composer
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Frederic Chopin was born in Poland and made his career in Paris, remaining unusual among great composers for writing almost exclusively for piano. He poured his longing for his homeland into mazurkas and polonaises, while his ballades and etudes combine poetic melody with harmonic innovation. This site includes 131 of his works, including the "Revolutionary" Etude, Op. 10, No. 12, and Ballades No. 1 and No. 4.
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