Mazurkas, Op. 41 (Chopin)

Frédéric Chopin, 1835

Mazurkas, Op. 41 is a set of four mazurkas for piano by Frédéric Chopin, composed and published between 1838 and 1839. A typical performance of the set lasts about nine and a half minutes. The set is dedicated to Chopin's friend Stefan Witwicki, a minor poet, ten of whose poems Chopin set to music as songs.

Structure

The order here is the order in the first German edition. The first French and English editions placed the C♯ minor mazurka last rather than first.

Mazurka in C♯ minor, Op. 41, No. 1

The first mazurka is in C♯ minor and has a time signature of ³
₄. It also has the tempo marking: Maestoso.

The Mazurka in C♯ minor opens in the Phrygian mode by outlining the scale as a solo right hand melody with repetition as the left hand enters, followed by harmonic development in E major and a climactic resolution in C♯ major. Various distinct episodes introduce new key areas, many developing the dotted rhythm idea from the main theme.

Mazurka in E minor, Op. 41, No. 2

The second mazurka is in E minor and has a time signature of ³
₄, marked Andantino. The middle trio contains a repeated D♯ in the right hand.

Mazurka in B major, Op. 41, No. 3

The third Mazurka is in B major and has a time signature of ³
₄, marked Animato.

Mazurka in A♭ major, Op. 41, No. 4

The final mazurka in the set is in A♭ major and has a time signature of ³
₄, marked Allegretto.

External links

• Mazurka Op. 41 No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4, played by Arthur Rubinstein (YouTube)
• Mazurkas, Op.41: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project