Five of the miniatures, a ballade, a nocturne, a polonaise and two
mazurkas, are reminiscent of Chopin and the other musicians who influenced him: John Field and Johann Hummel.
For his first appearance in Cyprus on Thursday Deljavan will show his inimitable artistry in a programme comprising Liszt's Sonata in B minor and Chopin's Piano Sonata No.2 and
Mazurkas Op.17
He introduces the
mazurka, for example, as being "born in the snows of Poland," but, "thaw[ing] out completely under the Antillean sun" (p.
Italian tarantellas, as in Bournonville's Napoli, can have 18/8 and 6/8 rhythms; Polish
mazurkas, like those in Raymonda, can be danced in a triple time with accents on the second or third beat.
In Grosvenor's hands three of Scriabin's Op 3
Mazurkas and his Valse Op 38 showed that he composed more than Chopin-andwater - especially the teasing scherzo-like sixth
mazurka.
Moravec's
Mazurkas are a gem, ranking up there alongside the few top-notch interpretations in history.
59
Mazurkas - the first of which was deeply moving - projected Chopin's melancholy as universal timelessness.
The Growing Old (Dis)Gracefully Dance Company take part in an evening of dance tomorrow, and on Wednesday pianist Joanna MacGregor plays the complete Chopin
mazurkas - all 58 of them!
The
Mazurkas , on the other hand, had lyrics that captured the breadth and cadence of his musical line.
The Chopin selection was wideranging (a Ballade, Nocturne, Scherzo, Etudes and
Mazurkas) with Perahia finding the right mood and character throughout.
A great innovator, Chopin invented the instrumental ballade form and took novel directions with the piano sonata, waltz, nocturne, polonaise, etude, and
mazurka. With his
mazurkas, Chopin brought a new sense of nationalism to music.
Despite the polonaises and
mazurkas, the Krakowiak, and numerous solo songs set in the vernacular, most listeners of Frederic Chopin's music would not likely recognize his style as being particularly Polish.
Tarnowski describes in full detail old Polish dances such as
mazurkas, aristocratic rituals, even oddities in an individual's gait.
