Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61 (Chopin)
Movements
Notes
The composition marks Chopin’s ‘late-last’ style and is noted for its intricate form and complex harmonies. The fantaisie seems to consciously flow from one idea into another, while the polonaise appears nocturne-like. Chopin’s flexible use of form, sophisticated part writing and harmony perhaps perplexed people at the time, so the work was slow to gain favour. Franz Liszt went so far to claim that the piece sounds like ‘somebody caught in an ambush surrounded on all sides.’ Nonetheless, today the Polonaise-Fantaisie is celebrated for being a wonderful creation. It exhibits what so many of us love about Chopin’s music: a poetic narrative, formed of rich harmonies and sublime melodies, full of intense emotion and expression. The music is full of drama, especially towards the end where tension builds up to an explosive finish, before the reflective returns.
