Oginsky's Polonaise (sheet music for piano) was once as popular as rock is now

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Polonaise is an old Polish dance. This is not an ordinary dance, but a procession traditionally performed at weddings, at the very beginning of the ball. It set the tone for the entire holiday, emphasizing its sublime character. The dance is performed according to certain rules, couples perform strictly defined figures.

Polonaise, a very common Polish folk dance, was used at every dance party, regardless of where it was held: both in rich living rooms and at a rural holiday.

Composer and patriot

Mikhail Kleofas Oginsky is one of the representatives of the Polish nobility. At a difficult moment for his homeland, when several European powers (Russia, Austria and Prussia) were systematically destroying Poland, he took part in organizing the uprising. He gave all his money to this resistance, he himself stood at the head of the detachment he created. This uprising is known as the Kosciuszko uprising. But, of course, two and a half thousand people could not do anything with the armies of the three European powers, so the uprising was crushed.

After the routOginsky managed to escape captivity and escape using forged documents. He moved through Austria to Italy, to Venice.

Polonaise

Oginsky's Polonaise was written in exile, in the city of Venice. In the original, it is called "Farewell to the Motherland." It is very characteristic that the favorite folk dance was chosen for such a tragic work. The work was originally written for the clavier, but was then transferred to many other instruments.

Europe quickly recognized this beautiful music - Oginsky's polonaise. Notes for the piano then, of course, were not yet widespread, it was performed on other instruments. The piano itself in its modern form appeared only in the middle of the 18th century. But gradually, in the first half of the 19th century, this instrument spread, primarily in St. Petersburg.

Sheet music "Oginsky's Polonaise" for piano

Oginsky was amnestied by Emperor Alexander I, some of his estates were returned to him and even given the opportunity to live on the territory of modern Belarus, that is, practically return to his homeland.

Balls, so fashionable in St. Petersburg and Moscow, gradually made Oginsky's polonaise very popular. Notes for the piano appeared, became in demand not only by musicians, but also by county ladies. Home concerts, small balls - Oginsky's polonaise is now often played at these as well. Notes for piano appeared in 1831, they were published in Italy. There isevidence that Oginsky himself published his works at his own expense a little earlier, but it was the Italian edition that became known. Now publications have appeared that Oginsky's polonaise (piano sheet music) was not written at all by Oginsky, and not at all at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, but much later. Of course, it is difficult to understand what kind of music was performed at that time, because, of course, there are no audio recordings. But there is evidence. For example, Thaddeus Benediktovich Bulgarin writes about such a work as Oginsky's polonaise. Notes for piano, orchestral performance of this work are known to all performers and lovers of good music. Such evidence cannot be ignored.