What is a polonaise?
Q: What is a polonaise?
A: A polonaise is a Polish dance that started as a folk dance and became popular among the Polish nobility. It is in 3/4 time and follows a distinctive rhythm.
Q: How does the music of a polonaise typically follow?
A: Polonaises are often composed in ternary form, song form, or minuet and trio which all follow an A-B-A pattern. The music of the A sections is similar if not identical while the B section provides contrast in some way to the A sections.
Q: Where was Polish culture popular during the 19th century?
A: Polish culture was very popular in Europe during the 1830s so it became known in other countries as well.
Q: Who wrote famous Polonaises for piano during this time period?
A: Frédéric Chopin wrote several Polonaises for piano which became famous during this time period.
Q: How difficult are these pieces to play?
A: Most of these pieces are very difficult to play, especially Chopin's famous Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53.
Q: What other composers wrote polonaises to give a Polish atmosphere?
A: Several Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky wrote polonaises to give a Polish atmosphere, e.g., Tchaikovsky's ballet The Sleeping Beauty and his opera Eugene Onegin .
