Chopin (1810-1849) composed approximately 60 Mazurkas for piano 
between 1820 and 1849, the year of his death. These works establish 
Chopin's affinity for this short form, and proclaim his strong feelings
of Polish national identity. 

This collection features the 41 mazurkas published during Chopin's 
lifetime, divided into sets comprising Op. 6 (1830), Op. 7 (1831), 
Op. 17 (1833), Op. 24 (1835), Op. 30 (1837), Op. 33 (1838), 
Op. 41 (1839), Op. 50 (1841), Op. 56 (1843), Op. 59 (1845) and 
Op. 63 (1846).  Some of these works represent revisions of youthful 
works, such as the Op. 7 No. 4 (original draft composed in 1824), and 
the Op. 17 No. 4 (also drafted in 1824).  Eight additional mazurkas 
were published posthumously under Op. 67 and 68.  These range in date 
of actual composition from 1827 (op. 68 No. 2) to 1849 (Op. 67 No. 2 
and Op. 68 No. 4- Chopin's last works). Two additional posthumous 
mazurkas, which do not bear opus numbers (composed in 1840 and 1841, 
respectively), are also included.


Not included in this collection are nine other unpublished mazurkas 
composed between 1820 and 1833.  (Br. catalogue listings 4, 16a, 16b, 
31, 39, 45, 73, 82 and 85).


While all of these pieces have in common the 3/4 time signature, that 
is where the similarity ends. There is enormous variety of tempo, 
rhythm and color; a wide emotional gamut; and a great freedom of 
form and invention. Some of these are among Chopin's most tragic works,
such as Op. 17 No. 4 and Op. 41 No. 2. Others demonstrate extraordinary 
rhythmic vitality, such as Op. 6 No. 3, Op. 24 No. 2, Op. 30 No. 3, 
Op. 41 No. 3 and Op. 56 No. 2. While most of them are brief (under 
3 minutes), several mazurkas are actually miniature tone poems, such as
Op. 17 No. 4, Op. 24 No. 4, Op. 30 No. 4, Op. 50 No. 3 and Op. 56 No. 3. 
The mazurkas also include some of Chopin's most famous works, such as  
Op. 7 No. 1, Op. 33 No. 2 (featured in the ballet "Les Sylphides"), 
Op. 33 No. 4, Op. 59 No. 2 and Op. 67 No. 3 (also featured in 
"Les Sylphides").

I played these pieces from the Carl Mikuli edition, originally 
published by F. Kistner in 1879. These 51 mazurkas were recorded
between Jan. and March, 1998, using realtime techniques.  They were 
performed on a Yamaha PSR-85 (touch responsive) keyboard, with 
Passport MIDI Workshop 1.01 (Windows 95).

Extended-play versions of the mazurkas (in 4 extended-play MIDI files) 
are available at http://members.aol.com/acuity2020/private/sequence.htm

-Ron Lubetsky, M.D.
acuity2020@aol.com
April 6, 1998