Chopin Polonaises

Frederick Chopin (1810-49) wrote 16 polonaises, which have been published, for piano. There are three main categories

• Those with opus numbers, during Chopin’s life.
• Those with opus numbers, published after Chopin’s death.
• Those without opus numbers.

< cr> Those published during his life:

1. opus 26 no.1 & 2, written in 1834/35, published in 1836.
2. opus 40 no.1 & 2, written in 1838/39, published in 1840.
3. opus 44, written in 1840/41, published in 1841.
4. opus 53, written in 1842, published in 1843.
5. opus 61 (polonaise-fantaisie), written in 1845/6, published in 1846.

< cr>Those published after his life with opus numbers:

1. opus 71 no.1, written in 1825, published in 1855.
2. opus 71 no.2 & 3, written in 1828, published in 1855

< cr>Those without opus numbers:

1. KK IIa no.1, written in 1817, published in 1817.
2. KK IVa no.1, written in 1817, published in 1934.
3. KK IVa no.2, written in 1821, published in 1902.
4. KK IVa no.3, written in 1822, published in 1864.
5. KK IVa no.5, written in 1826, published in 1826.
6. KK IVa no.8, written in 1829, published in 1870.

These polonaises provide a formidable challenge for a pianist. They are technically highly demanding, and are often of a formidable length (eg. opus 44 is about 20 solid pages long with repeats).