Chopin Mazurkas (yes I actually started a thread w/ Fred)

[visitor]

I know I like to poke fun at the Chopin worship around here, however, it is never from the 'it's without merit' attitude, just that it pains me that so much other great music gets overlooked....

So of Chopin's music, the solo piano works of the Etudes, large works ie Scherzo, Ballade, and then preludes and nocturnes are talked and talked and asked and asked about.  The Mazurkas probably get a mention of 1-2 for every 40 or of the former. Sad really, I think they are his best works, each a little musical gem, small but brilliant.

So when this fabulous discussion popped up on my feed, and w/ English language support, I felt I had to share, hoping this inspires folks that normally find this fare too spicy to appreciate them for what they are. They also serve as a great starting point before going into the Mazurkas of Scriabin and later Szymanowksi (which I love love love, more than the Chopin ones but I do appreciate the set).

anyhoot. there you have it.   

USSR, 1987
In this episode of "Open Piano", the renowned Russian pianist and pedagogue Vera Gornostayeva (October 1, 1929 – January 19, 2015) talks about Chopin's mazurkas and performs 7 of them.

As I am such a great admirer of the old guard and in particular Heinrich Neuhaus , and VG studied under him (kids paying attention in earlier classes may recall that Gilels  also studied w/ HN  )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Gornostayeva

[j_menz]

You'll be starting a thread on the Schumann Lieder next. 

The Mazurkas are a bit of a mixed bag in my opinion, like most of the style sets (Except the Polonaises, which are all unspeakably horrid.). When they are good, they are excellent, and mostly avoid the hysterical bits of Chopin I most dislike.  Quite well scored, too - which is one of my big bugbears with Freddy.

[visitor]

You'll be starting a thread on the Schumann Lieder next.  

The Mazurkas are a bit of a mixed bag in my opinion, like most of the style sets (Except the Polonaises, which are all unspeakably horrid.). When they are good, they are excellent, and mostly avoid the hysterical bits of Chopin I most dislike.  Quite well scored, too - which is one of my big bugbears with Freddy.

I.
ha ha perhaps. as I have stated before,I want to like Schumanns piano music. I actually appreciate some of the symphonic and voice  + piano works. And I actually like long stretches of the piano quintet (the Brahms transcription of that one movement is nice).

II. I wholeheartedly agree w/ all points stated.  I love that the Mazurkas don't mess around and get right to it and are not 'frilly'. Which Fred certainly was (he was a 'Parisian' afterall so it is difficult to   fault him for that)  

[chopinlover01]

I think j_menz hit it straight on the head. The mazurkas can either be gorgeous, or be less than nothing.. Some of them are just boring.
Although this, I have a hard time seeing

(Except the Polonaises, which are all unspeakably horrid.)

[mjames]

The mazurka in my signature is the only Chopin piece I've learned this year and even though it's been awhile since i got it memorized I just can't stop playing. Chopin could express the world's grief and joy all in one short little work.

Another mazurka in my to do list is the op. 30 in c sharp minor. I don't think I'm ready for it but I'm getting there! God, I just love it. So fricking groovy. The middle section too. UGHHH <333