Polonesas Chopin Courses

Frédéric Chopin is widely credited for creating the genre of polonaise, a genre of Polish dance music which combined an elegant dance style with complex, virtuosic melodies. The polonaise was particularly popular during the Romantic era, and Chopin wrote two dozen of them, many of which remain popular live and in recordings today. Chopin's polonaises are some of his most iconic works, and they often represent the pinnacle of virtuosity within the genre. The polonaise was a slow march-style dance popular in Poland during the Romantic period. In its basic form, the polonaise was in triple time with a strong emphasis on the beat. Chopin's polonaises often had a distinctive, recognizable melody at its center combined with short but complex variations on this main theme. He usually composed these polonaises for solo piano, although some versions for orchestra are known to exist. Chopin's typical approach to composition was to employ both standard structures and structures that he invented in order to create new, exciting pieces. His polonaises were no exception to this approach, and they represented a combination of well-known melodies and innovative structures. In particular, many of his polonaises featured dramatic climax sequences that allowed the performers to really show off their virtuosic skills. Chopin wrote two distinct sets of polonaise throughout his career: the seven mature Polonaises and the more spontaneous Grande Polonaises. Almost all of Chopin's Polonaises are in A-flat major and feature complex yet lyrical melodies. The grande Polonaises are characterised by a slower tempo and more ornate ornamentation. Chopin's polonaises have remained popular for over a century and have been recorded and performed by numerous great classical musicians. His works are considered to be some of the finest and most characteristic pieces of the Romantic period, and their influence can still be felt today.