For the longest time in my life I've always envisioned how much it would take me to learn the piece in today's post. I remember when I was little thinking about how much this piece would haunt me in my later years as I attempted to learn it. I first saw the score when I was 9 and nearly fainted. Here eleven years later and I'm still completely baffled by it.

The piece is Chopin's Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op.53, commonly known as the "Heroic" Polonaise and if there were ever a name that suited a piece perfectly, this would be one of them. The piece was written in 1842 and is perfect example of Chopin's piano compositions: bursting with energy throughout its entirety, scaling a wide range of the keyboard, colored with harmony and a distinct melody throughout.

It was for awhile my favorite piece by the piano written by Chopin, and while I may have since moved into the light of some of his other works, the Polonaise will always be there.


The polonaise being performed by Rafal Blechacz, the winner of the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2005. Performance in the video starts at 2:18

The piece, though classified as a polonaise, has little to do with the true polonaise style. The work presents itself with two sections with a polonaise rhythm but most of it has no polonaise attributes. It is believed that Chopin wrote the piece having at the back of his mind, a free and victorious Poland which could explain the title of the polonaise, a wide spread dance on carnival parties in 3/4 rhythm.

The piece also references Chopin's earlier Polonaise in A Major, Op.40, No.1 with the beginning chords and ensuing chromatic development. Unlike the "Heroic" Polonaise, the Op.40, No.1, also known as the "Military" polonaise is a "true" polonaise, I should also know as I have performed it and been criticized about not bringing out the true "polish dance" aspect towards it.