A heroic polonaise blending virtuosic piano writing with echoes of Polish folk melodies, composed during Chopin's mature period in Paris. It combines martial rhythms with lyrical introspection, reflecting the composer's exiled patriotism.
A monumental Romantic-era polonaise composed in 1841, breaking from traditional dance forms. Characterized by sharp rhythms and dramatic contrasts, it features an unexpected mazurka section. Liszt praised its ability to "galvanise the torpor of our indifference" through energetic vitality.
