"Polonaise" is the French word for 'Polish', it is a
slow dance in triple time. The instruction 'alla
polacca' is an indication that the music should be
played in the style and character of a Polonaise. The
Swedish "Polska" has the same origins as the Polonaise,
'Polska' means 'Polish' in Swedish. This music has
ancient origins amongst the rural folk of Poland when
it was primarily accompanied by singing, in the 1500s
instrumental versions of the dances were adopted by the
Polish aristocracy and...(+)
"Polonaise" is the French word for 'Polish', it is a
slow dance in triple time. The instruction 'alla
polacca' is an indication that the music should be
played in the style and character of a Polonaise. The
Swedish "Polska" has the same origins as the Polonaise,
'Polska' means 'Polish' in Swedish. This music has
ancient origins amongst the rural folk of Poland when
it was primarily accompanied by singing, in the 1500s
instrumental versions of the dances were adopted by the
Polish aristocracy and used in their courtly occasions.
Polonaises are sometimes composed with a contrasting
middle section called a 'trio', while at other times
the Rondo format is used. Some of the most famous
Polonaises were written by the Polish composer and
pianist Frédéric Chopin.
Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856) was a lyrical guitar
composer who worked in the 19th century. This guitarist
was born in Pressburg (present Bratislava, Slovakia)
and married a pianist Josephine (née Plantin). They
resided in Vienna, Austria where Mertz had a loyal
following. He performance prowess was of the highest
order and was welcomed in Berlin (Kingdom of Prussia)
and Dresden (Kingdom of Saxony) to concertize. There
were also further tours to Poland and Russia.
Mp3 recording from youtube is performed by Valéry
Sauvage.
Lewis, Alastair (1974 - )
SHEET MUSIC