Frédéric François Chopin (1810 – 1849) was a
Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic
era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has
maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of
his era, one whose "poetic genius was based on a
professional technique that was without equal in his
generation."
The Op. 7 set of mazurkas is the only one containing
five pieces; all the composer's other published sets
consist of either three or four items each. On the
whole, this set ...(+)
Frédéric François Chopin (1810 – 1849) was a
Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic
era who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has
maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of
his era, one whose "poetic genius was based on a
professional technique that was without equal in his
generation."
The Op. 7 set of mazurkas is the only one containing
five pieces; all the composer's other published sets
consist of either three or four items each. On the
whole, this set represents a step forward from the Op.
6 collection. In fact, when the Op. 7 was published in
1832, it gained Chopin both recognition and notoriety
in France for bold and imaginative writing that more
tradition-minded ears found revolting. The pieces range
in length from about four minutes (the second piece in
the set) to half a minute (the final mazurka, in C
major).
The second mazurka in this set, in B flat major and
sometimes known as Mazurka No. 5, is probably the best
known in the group. Marked Vivace, it is a graceful,
lively piece whose elegance and debonair qualities give
it a somewhat aristocratic air. But in the latter half
of this piece a subdued theme appears that is more
earthy, more peasant-like. The main theme returns to
close this attractive work.
PARTITION