Classical Music | Cello Music

Recorded on 12/12/2006, uploaded on 01/19/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Polonaise Brillante in C major Op.3 for Cello and Piano              Frédéric Chopin

The Polonaise Brillante for piano and cello, Op. 3 was composed in 1829 during Chopin's visit to the Polish Prince Radziwill, when the composer was a mere 19 years of age. In the following year, he added an introduction and dedicated the whole work to the celebrated cellist and composer, Joseph Merk. In a letter he wrote from Vienna to his family in 1831, Chopin relates that he had accompanied Merk at the piano during an evening at the home of Aloïs Fuchs, an art collector and amateur cellist. Chopin's generous lyricism is obvious from the very first measures of the Introduction (Lento).  The cello's song-like theme is immediately taken up by the piano in a subtle paraphrase which binds the two instruments together from that point. After this gentle exposition, the music becomes more intense and a section full of fury ensues, featuring great leaps at the cello and repeated chords at the piano. In the Polonaise (Allegro con spirito) that follows, the irresistible and highly characterized movement of the dance is first heard in the piano part.  Through a section of sustained and ebullient rhythm, both melody and accompaniment are exchanged from one instrument to the other throughout the work. (Notes by Marc Hyland)

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.