Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (Chopin)

Original autograph partiture, 1842.
Zoom

The Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (French: Polonaise héroïque, Heroic Polonaise) for solo piano, was written by Frédéric Chopin in 1842. This composition is among one of Chopin's most admired compositions and has been a favorite of the classical piano repertoire. The piece, which is very difficult, requires exceptional pianistic skills and great virtuosity to be interpreted at an appropriate level of quality.

Technical aspects

The polonaise features many difficult technical aspects, including:

• Fast ascending chromatic Perfect Fourths
• Rapid, difficult octave scaling
• Trills with the weaker fingers
• Quick scales
• Fast arpeggios
• Broken chords
• Chords with wide fingering
• Use of a wide range of the piano keyboard

Structure

The tempo of the piece is Alla polacca e maestoso ("like a polonaise and majestic"). The form is ternary (A-B-A), with an introduction of about thirty seconds in length.

The piece features a grand introduction with fast ascending chromatic notes in both hands, setting the mood of the piece; it shows the heroic side of Chopin's art. The first theme is a dance-like theme and in the tonic key of A-flat major. It is the familiar part of the piece, and has the left hand moving in pounding octaves. The theme is repeated up an octave with short trills that fill some of the auditory gaps in the theme. There is a brief interlude with a series of chord progressions that lead into a recount of the traditional polonaise melody, with the polonaise rhythm employed in the left-hand accompaniment. The theme of Section A then repeats once before closing. Section B opens with six loud arpeggio chords before switching to a very soft bass ostinato of descending octaves first in the key of E major and then in E-flat major (written as D-sharp major). A march-like melody follows the descending octaves and this occurs twice. Section B ends, with a long lyrical interlude firstly with harmonic chord progressions and frequent modulations. This ends in a descending passage before Section A is replayed. The theme is played louder and more dramatically and ends in a coda including material derived from the main theme.

A typical performance of the polonaise lasts seven minutes.

External links

• Polonaise in A-flat major, Op.53: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
• Heroic Polonaise sheet music at Musopen
• Chopin - Polonaise As-Dur op 53 "Heroique" on YouTube, performed by Rafał Blechacz (the winner of the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition)
• Heroic Polonaise on YouTube, performed by Valentina Igoshina (Winner of the Rachmaninoff Competition in Moscow)
• Heroic Polonaise on YouTube, performed by Vladimir Horowitz (Time's "probably the greatest pianist of the 20th century")