24 Mazurkas
for piano
Maria Szymanowska published three dance collections in her lifetime. Along with several autonomous polonaises and waltzes, those dance cycles constitute a large proportion of her oeuvre. She tried her hand at such diverse genres as Polish mazurkas and polonaises, but also waltzes, minuets, contra dances, and quadrilles.
The fact that her collection of 24 Mazurkas was published as many as three times during her lifetime testifies to the cycle’s popularity.
Szymanowska’s mazurkas follow the very basic harmonic scheme of the authentic (dominant-fifth) cadence. It is astounding what wide palette of moods the composer was capable of generating based on such simple harmony. Some of the mazurkas in the collection are obstreperous, others lyrical, elegant in a proper salon manner, or vigorously whirling at a lively tempo. The considerable diversity of melodic and rhythmic structures, which reflects the composer’s rich musical imagination, makes each of these pieces unique, while together they form a colourful musical kaleidoscope.
- Series: Strumento
- ISMN 979-0-2740-4078-9
- Language of edition: polski, angielski
- Number of pages: 32
- Cover: softcover
- Type: instrumental solo
- Size: N4 vertical (235x305 mm)
