Chopin's Mazurkas - Part 8[source]
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<glacius:metadata> | |
<title>Chopin's Mazurkas - Part 8</title> | |
<description>Once again I listen to Chopin's Mazurkas (part 8)</description> | |
<category>Piano</category> | |
<category>Music</category> | |
<category>Classical music</category> | |
<category>Chopin</category> | |
<series order="49">2022 music project</series> | |
<series order="8">Reviewing Chopin's mazurkas</series> | |
</glacius:metadata> | |
<p> | |
I only have a few weeks left before the end of the year, so I need to | |
finish listening to the non-posthumous mazurkas or else I'll never forgive | |
myself for being a quitter. I have 9 left. This week is Op. 56 and Op. 59. | |
A double dose. | |
</p> | |
<h2>Trois Mazurkas</h2> | |
<p>For <em>à Mlle C. Maberly</em>.</p> | |
<h3>Op. 56, No. 1 in B major</h3> | |
<p> | |
The intro has some very strange modulation from B major to G major, and then eventually | |
transitioning into the classic 7♭5 (one of my favorites from previous articles), | |
which leads to F♯9 and then we're back in B. Nice. This is also a | |
classic example of "tritone chord substitution" that jazz people will ramble on | |
about as if it's some magical property beyond the realm of understanding unless you're | |
teaching at Berklee. The real trick is to simply understand that | |
(for example, in this particular excerpt) G7♭5 and C♯7♭5 contain all the | |
same notes (enharmonically), which is why the "substitution" part works. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no1-7flat5.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>G → C♯7♭5 → F♯9 → B</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<p> | |
And then an awkward key change from B to E♭. I feel like there's some | |
theory there, but I don't know what it is. Chopin did the same thing in the | |
Finale of his 3rd Sonata, in the middle section I think. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:grid cols="2"> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no1-key-change.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Abrupt key change from B(7) → E♭ in Op. 56, No. 1</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no1-key-change-sonata.png" type="image"> | |
<caption> | |
The same abrupt key change from B(7) → E♭ in | |
Chopin's Sonata No. 3, Finale | |
</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
</glacius:grid> | |
<p> | |
The E♭ section is quite flighty and frivolous, and is later mimicked | |
in the key of G. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:grid cols="2"> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no1-legato-eflat.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Legato section in E♭</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no1-legato-g.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Legato section in G, later in the piece</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
</glacius:grid> | |
<h3>Op. 56, No. 2 in C major</h3> | |
<p> | |
The main theme of this one is quite lame. Lots of block chords in the left | |
hand and an incoherent melody. But the B section has a pretty sweet little | |
countermelody to it. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:grid cols="2"> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no2-theme.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Some LH block chords in the main theme</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no2-countermelody.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>LH takes over the melody in the B section</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
</glacius:grid> | |
<h3>Op. 56, No. 3 in C minor</h3> | |
<p> | |
This main theme sounds very familiar, like it was used in a movie or | |
something.<glacius:cite>As far as I can tell, no, it's not used in anything. How | |
uninteresting.</glacius:cite> | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no3-theme.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Main theme to Op. 56, No. 3</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<p> | |
Eventually we get to something with a lot more accidentals. My score has | |
a D♭7 with a C♭ on top which repeats itself with a B♮ | |
in the next chord. The recording sounds different from what I have written, | |
so that obviously warrants more investigation. But mostly I was reminded of | |
<glacius:link page="music/projects/chopin-mazurkas-part-3">Op. 24, No. 4</glacius:link> | |
that had almost the same weird spelling and I hunted down the original manuscript to see | |
what was what. From my brief research, the C♭ is pretty much never performed | |
and is usually a C♮. The scores I found seemed to be about 50/50. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:grid cols="2"> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no3-cflat.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>A C♭ in my score</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no3-cnat.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>The C♮ that is most often performed</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
</glacius:grid> | |
<p> | |
Some more fun enharmonic spelling in my score in the leadup back to the | |
main theme, with a G♯ tied to an A♭. That kind of thing | |
always amuses me. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op56-no3-spelling.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Enharmonic spelling in the transition back to C minor</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<h2>Trois Mazurkas</h2> | |
<h3>Op. 59, No. 1 in A minor</h3> | |
<p> | |
More 7♭5 goodness in the A section, although it doesn't lead | |
to anything that makes sense. But it wouldn't be a mazurka if it made | |
sense. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no1-theme.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>F♯7♭5 leads to E or something?</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<p> | |
The B section has some rather abrupt chord progressions. Definitely a | |
mazurka. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no1-weird-chords.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Chromatic chord progression in the B section</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<p> | |
Some mildly interesting RH-LH call/response things with lots of descending | |
chromatics break up the monotony of confusing chord transitions. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no1-call-response.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Descending chromatic-ish scales in each hand</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<p> | |
And finally, I would never forgive myself if I didn't mention all the | |
7♭5 chords in the coda. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no1-coda.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>It's not a mazurka without some juicy 7♭5 chords</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<h3>Op. 59, No. 2 in A♭ major</h3> | |
<p> | |
I kinda liked the little descending legato leading back to the main theme. | |
Very Chopin-esque. The same little motif is repeated with a slightly different | |
ending to lead-in to the C section. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:grid cols="2"> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no2-leadin1.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Descending run leading back to the main theme</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no2-leadin2.png" type="image"> | |
<caption> | |
The same descending run with a slight twist leading in to the C section | |
</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
</glacius:grid> | |
<p> | |
A glut of chromatic accidentals prepares you for the coda. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no2-coda-chromatics.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Lots of chromatic accidentals in the Coda</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<h3>Op. 59, No. 3 in F♯ minor</h3> | |
<p> | |
That B♯ in the first bar confused me, I had to listen to it | |
twice since it sounded so odd. Seems to just be passing tone, but it | |
definitely lends something exotic to the opening. And of course | |
everyone's favorite makes an appearance: the <code>V</code> of the <code>V</code>. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:grid cols="2"> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no3-main-theme.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>Main theme with a random B♯</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
<div> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no3-five-of-five.png" type="image"> | |
<caption> | |
<code>V</code> of the <code>V</code> never fails to disappoint: | |
G♯7 → C♯7 → F♯m | |
</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
</div> | |
</glacius:grid> | |
<p> | |
The triplets established by the theme make another appearance in the left-hand | |
as we it takes us back to the main theme later in the piece. | |
</p> | |
<glacius:figure glacius:src="49-chopin-mazurkas-08-op59-no3-triplets.png" type="image"> | |
<caption>LH triplets take us back to the beginning</caption> | |
</glacius:figure> | |
<p> | |
Overall this one was okay. I liked the use of the lower register of the keyboard. | |
Most of the mazurkas seem to remain in the middle. | |
</p> | |