Description
This set of four mazurkas dates from 1834-35 and spans a wide emotional range, from the reflective lyricism of the opening piece to more robustly folk-flavored dances. It shows Chopin's growing skill at compressing varied emotional content into the mazurka's compact form. The set never loses the genre's essential dance-like energy, making it a satisfying group to hear in full, with its shifting tonal colors adding further interest.
Works based on Polish folk dance, infused with Chopin's longing for his homeland — deeply personal music.
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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