Last semester I completed my first attempt at learning a Chopin Polonaise. It was rather exciting but also challenging in coordinating myself so as to not get tired halfway through the piece with some of my gargantuan arm movements. As was discussed in the previous post with motion while playing, the movement this time was to ease the technical elements as much as possible.

Overall I would probably need to re-evaluate how I learned the piece and make some minor changes now if I were to play it again. I practiced it the other day and it was obvious I wasn't doing something right.

It was the Polonaise in A Major, Op.40 No.1, commonly known as the "Military" polonaise. A polonaise is slow form of Polish dance written in 3/4 meter and is distinct with its rhythm.



It is also through this rhythm that the A major polonaise also eludes the idea of a full fledged military band herding through town. The piece is ideally separated into five segments that somewhat resemble this.

A BA C AB A


The opening A segment is heard many times throughout and the distinct middle (C) section in D major are my favorite parts while the B section recurring after the main theme is probably the most challenging in the entire piece.

The C section gives the piece its more lively sense of character which is then contrasted by a various series of trills and a brief interlude of altering parallel major-minor chords build into a recapitulation of the D major section before exiting out into the A theme once more. Chopin then brings back the B section again before finishing as the piece started in A major.



It always pays to watch other videos of other performances as it opens the door to new ideas in approaching the piece. Technically as well as playing it like a Chopin piece, with a distinct array of contrasting emotions. To do it with a rather simplistic piece in terms of rhythm and melody was probably the biggest challenge for myself.

The true effectiveness in this piece lay in the harmony and integrating energy into that perpetual polonaise rhythm.

In truth, when I first heard this piece it wasn't exactly my favorite of Chopin's. Upon learning it I've found a new level of respect for the piece, and what it takes to perform it.