F. Chopin - Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat major Op. 61 - Analysis.Greg Niemczuk's lecture
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
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Concert pianist describes and analizes Chopin's Masterpieces for the piano.
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When I first heard this piece, I was really appealed by the beginning, but that's it, for me. I felt the piece was too long, and that was a year ago.
Now that I've listened more of Chopin's work, I find a lot of people talking about this piece (another one is barcarolle), and I want to learn more about this piece (I'm just a self-taught piano player but I recently fell in love with Chopin). This is the only analysis of this piece I can find on RUclips, and after finishing watching, I'm just deeply moved. Now I understand why so many people love this piece.
So thank you Greg. The world needs more people like you, who are so knowledgeable and passionate about what they love, and are willing to share this passion to others!
Long time ago i hated this work, but now it is one of my favourite Chopin works.
I'm glad to hear that!
Thank you very, very much, Greg!!! We really need pianists and artists like you!
I'm honored to read these words.
I am obsessed with this piece currently. It has everything. Also, your interpretation of it on your CD is great.
Thank you so much!!!!!!
This lecture is absolutely wonderful. However, I must object about the trill-silence, mentionned the second time at 23:16 : it is definitely not a silence, it is the opposite. The amount of notes in the tremolos and trills are added, the intensity grows several times: pp, poco a poco cresc., stronger cresc. and finishes with a sforzando. As an auditor I feel that more like a growing screaming, shivering, struggle, or increasing desire, followed by a "letting go", or acceptance.
In "Music, analysis, and the body, experiments, explorations, and embodiments", Reyland , Thumpson, 2018
"(...) Horowitz’s trill makes this listener shiver; it is an affect that opens up the drastic in music.
The trill as experience constitutes a detour that is qualitatively different from
those that Newcomb recognizes. As an affect, the trill is pre-lingual and nonlinear,
an experience that breaks up the narrative of the Polonaise-Fantasie. The
trill as drastic is an intensity that we experience as a pleasurable interaction with
the music as body. The trill as gnostic is a sign of an agent who refuses to let
go. Coming at the end of the B section of the Polonaise-Fantasie, the trill goes
on too long for a conventional cadence, as if the agent is unwilling to return to
the action of the narrative. And once the trill comes to a stop, it does so as quite
a shock, landing on a minor-ninth chord that jolts the musical body and awakens
it from a double fantasy as an affective body and a signifying body. We may
try to recuperate the narrative of the Polonaise-Fantasie by folding the affective
response into the signifying one and filling the void of an affect that threatens
to break apart the logic of the music’s plot. Or we may acknowledge that
the Polonaise-Fantasie points to the dual and changeable nature of the body.
The monologic subject of modernity might value the first strategy as one that
recuperates a structured and logical existence. But the fragmented subject of
postmodernity might opt for the second strategy as one that acknowledges
that we are not one but several. The body is not a monument but a multiplicity.
As we listen and study with our moving bodies, we recognize that our experience
of music is more varied and excessive than current theory often admits.
We will never know all that the body can do as it exceeds the signifying limit
of music."
I must agree with you. Wonderfully explained!!!
If there was only one Chopin artwork I had to choose to play until the end of my life I think it would be the polonaise fantaisie ! Many thanks for this very interesting lecture !
Same here!!! I'm so happy that I'm playing it on Tuesday on the concert!
@@gregniemczuk Hehe great great ! What do we say in polish to wish success ? Why don't you play it at every concert ?
@@MathieuPrevot powodzenia!
Well, I'm Playing different programs. It's a very intelectual piece
@@gregniemczuk Then powodzenia for tuesday !!
Merci professeur Niemczuk, c’était une vidéo passionnante ! Votre contenu est si précieux quand on veut plonger plus profondément dans des pièces mystérieuses !
Merci!!!!!
20:03 The second half of the first phrase of Maiden's Wish can be found in the lower right hand! F# and E at measure 170 on the fourth and fifth eighth notes, and D# at measure 171 beat 1 (I replay an F# at measure 171 beat 2). The same notes are also in measures 172-173.
Thank you so much Grzegorz, for bringing all those fragments into a cohesive piece, for doing justice to this masterpiece, for your heart and soul. You have helped me understand that the 'part c' at 43:03 was announcing the 'confessional' theme in the middle section! At first I thought this polonaise had too many themes, but now I see it only has three truly important themes. I already loved this piece before the video, and I love it even more now. Your analysis is a masterpiece in itself!
This means a lot to me! Thank you! I'm very happy that I can make it a bit easier to understand. Especially this very complicated masterpiece!
I could listen to it over and over on repeat. Like the summation of Chopin' greatness .. part Polonaise, part Nocturne, part Scherzo, part Mazurka ...
Totally!
At the first time I only knew this piece by ear. Now my fingers play this piece ca. 16 minutes. I find it really magical how a human soul be so purely extracted and be preserved upon this fineset piece by Chopin. All aspects of time a man can physically perceive-glorious past, gloomy present, and the golden future-are aesthetically crafted, this one..
Though I do not recall the first time I see this video, this is my second time watching it whole. Thank you for making me cherish the ongoing life with your detailed comments on this piece!!
Thank you so much!!! You're a very talented and passionate musician. This masterclass is so helpful! Wish you all the best in your life and profession!!!
Thank you so much!
Another ingenious analysis of Chopin’s music. Thanks for pointing out the melodies that Chopin quoted in this piece. You’re right, I’ll never listen to this piece the same way as before
I'm so happy to hear that! Sorry for late answer. I did not see your comment!
Thank you immensely for your exquisite rendition of the Polonaise Fantaisie! This piece has held a special place in my heart for as long as I can remember, having been enchanted by numerous pianists' interpretations and even having the pleasure of playing it myself. The midsection, in particular, has always captivated me, leaving me to ponder the depth of its emotional impact. Now, thanks to your insightful interpretation, I finally grasp the beauty that resonates so profoundly with me. My deepest gratitude once again!
Thank you! I really appreciate your words!
I am an amateur pianist but this piece brings me much comfort in the chaos of today, I am determined to learn it.
Wow, fantastic! You should! It's a divine music
@@gregniemczuk Thank you, I enjoy your videos very much.
Dear Greg. I'm a Brazilian guy and I have liked this piece since I was 14 yo. I never heard a great explanation like yours. Thanks a lot!
Obrigado!!!!
Thank you for your clarity and passion in explaining this fantastic piece by Chopin.
Thanks for being here!!!
I really loved this video!!! You have opened my eyes to this piece!!! I cried when at times through out this video. This is my new favorite piece and i connect with this piece very much now!!! Thank you!!! I have always said that the op.25 no.5 middle section melody was one of the most beautiful, wholesome, and greatest melodies of all time that has a unfulfilable longing to it, and i only just realized from your video that that melody was his mother's, and that its in this very piece!!! When i realized that i cried a little. And also the maidens wish song and the mazurka melody in it, this piece is whole life and its so emotional and beautiful and full of longing. When i first listen to this piece i didnt understand it and to be honest did not quite like it but you have shown me the beauty in it, the beauty wich is hidden plain sight!! And i thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!❤ there is so much more that i could say about how much i love this piece now, words can not describe it, only tear's. Thank you!! I have subscribed and im watching all of your videos, right now im learning chopin sonata op.35 no.2 and i really enjoyed your videos on that as well.
Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for how you have brought a new vision into chopin's music for all of us to enjoy.
Thank you so much for this comment! I don't know why I saw it just now! I hope you'll read my answer. I deeply appreciate your words!
Thank you for uploading this super enjoyable video!
My pleasure!
I originally didn't like this piece when I first heard it, but recently with my re-listening, I'm really starting to like it. Thanks for the video as always!
So you had the same experience! Thank you for watching!
This piece is my favorite, i have listened to it a 1000 times and it only gets better. The reason why i love this piece so much is because it just feel so mysterious, as if this piece is not from this planet. Just so beautiful.
Wow! Yes!!! It means you must be a very spiritual and deep person.
Thank you soooo much!!! I found your video by accident and I found my self watching over 1 hour on your teachings! Thank you thank you, teacher!!
Wow thanks!!! You made me so happy! You have such videos about every single Chopin's piece 😀
I will try all , they aal are amazing thanks
Hi Greg, I agree with your ending perspective on this piece, ‘what is this?’, ‘where does this go?, and after listening to many pianist and seeing deeper into the piece it is a masterpiece. The beginning introduction just kept coming to me where I was drawn to search for which Chopin piece is this? It was channeled from heaven.
Hi, thank you so much for watching this lecture about that complicated piece of music. Yes, it's such a profound music!
Such a great video. I didn't always like Chopin because when I first started piano I got Scriabin's preludes and etudes in 1 volume. There are many easy preludes and I would spend hours reading through them. The Chopin I heard was always too difficult for me and the easy works seemed simple. Then I saw this movie Impromptu. The music in the film was so beautiful that I fell in love with Chopin before the movie was over. So I started reading through the preludes and nocturnes I could play. I feel that Chopin has a soul unlike almost every other composer. I started reading through the mazurkas and polonaises and was just so happy to feel his music in my fingers. I recently read that Scriabin's piano teacher 'force fed' him all of Chopin's music. I am so happy to enjoy both composers music. There are times that Chopin's harmony is so advanced for his time, like in the F# major nocturne, it almost sounds like Scriabin. There were times where I felt such passion for Chopin I convinced myself I must have Polish blood and when I got my DNA done there it was 3% Polish!
I really enjoyed your analysis and passion for this music, I could not stop watching even though I was hungry when I started this video. Thank you so much for an hour of pure pleasure with Chopin. I understand this piece now and cannot wait to hear your complete performance of it. Thanks!!
Thank you for the wonderful commentary on my favorite work, Chopin's Fantaisie-Polonaise, a masterpiece filled with deep shadows and distant yearning. I was deeply moved. I wept at the interpretation that the middle section is based on Chopin's mother's lullaby. The observation that it shares the same melody as an étude is also quite sharp. It reminded me of a similar intervallic melody, sung with emotion in Wagner's "Götterdämmerung" finale: "Ruhe, ruhe, du Gott!"
Thank you very much! I'm going to play Polonaise Fantasy in Bunka Kaikan in Early February next year!
I like Chopin very much, I am full of awe and longing for this work, but I have not been able to understand this work until I read your introduction completely. I feel its incomparable place in your heart.
I'm really happy to hear that!
Thank you for a very touching personal comment in the end of this video (about your first encounter w.op.61). This piece is indeed a magnificent composition. If - if! - one were just to consider style, harmony, use of piano techniques, and ideas of tonality, counterposing the themes, (counterpoint in a Chopin-way) then it would be a stroke of genius in its own right.
Considering the possibility that Chopin infused symbolism into the composition, your vivid and empathetic description of the development of the themes helps interpreting the emotions, the images, in the course of events in this piece.
Thank you for watching the whole episode and for your comment!
Really appreciate this video, I love your analysis, playing, and personality.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. I came to like this piece fairly recently after listening to it many times. I always feel the nostalgia and yearning for the past when I come across a good interpretation of the piece, but never really sat down and studied why. Chopin’s genius is that his musical words are so universal, that even for a person like me, from far east, who has no background in Poland can feel the pain and the nostalgia without really understanding the meaning of the piece. With that said, it’s still such a revelation to know what’s behind the composer’s mind and how the piece is constructed. It’s a whole different world that opened thanks to you and your passion. Just found out I missed your recital in Tokyo! Wish I found your channel sooner!
Thank you!!!
I'll be coming to Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in January 2025!
I'm halfway thru your wonderful commentary and performance. I first encountered a recording of this in high school, many decades ago: Rubenstein recorded in the 1960s. I was not prepared for this music. The sublime, otherworldly sounds, glorious deep pedal full keyboard piano resonance left to fade into the space. And the volcanic, passionate conclusion... fading off... then the two closing chords, like massive Greek columns of a temple.
Yeeees!!!!! So you understand my feelings perfectly!!
I was also too young for this piece once....
Thank you Mr Niemczuk for your passionate analysis! I have been in love with Chopin, and I had faith there's so much more underneath this piece even when I didn't understand it. This video constantly amazes me, which I cried during the video discovering the culmulation of suffering of the composer, and cried again at the end as the galloping and the last chord ironically reflect an even more sad Chopin to me...
You're welcome! Thank you for this comment. Indeed, underneath this masterpiece there is so much hidden!
Absolutely wonderful Maestro Greg loved every word and hope to watch this and all your videos at least a million times! I love the depth you bring to these masterpieces 👏 👏 👏 Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Dear Dan. Thank you very much for this beautiful and encouraging words!! All the best, Greg Niemczuk.
Stunning interpretation of a now-more-emotive masterpiece, even on first listen I was floored by the ending climax and that energized scale
Thank you so much!
This is so beautiful! Thank you so much! I will love Chopin even more from now on ! Thanks again !
Thank you for bringing such life to this work - you’re a wonderful and inspiring teacher! I played this piece 25 years ago, but I’m enjoying re-discovering it now…and understanding it better. Thank you!
Thank you dear Jim! I appreciate your comment
Thank you for this amazing and such deep analysis, Greg! I can frankly say that although Chopin has been my favorite composer from childhood, understanding this piece in particular was never easy and you helped me so much with your great lecture! Great work as always…
I'm so happy! That was my goal in this video. I knew myself how demanding this piece is. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks Greg for your enlightening analysis of this beautiful composition by Chopin. His best in my humble opinion. Although I am old and unwell I am determined to learn it if it is the last thing I do.
These are such beautiful words...
Touching. Good luck and thank you!
Amazingly insightful and passion packed video! Come to LA! I would love to see you perform hahaha! Take care and thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks! I'd love to 😀
Thank you so much for your videos! I, now, understand the piece much better.
This is such a moving and heartfelt video. This has always been a special piece to me and you brought SO much new insight into it. Bravo, Greg!
Yes!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for watching!
I listen to this piece for a few months, so this analysis makes me appreciate it even more. Thanks for the analysis! (sorry if I typed anything wrong, English is not my main language)
Thank you!!! No worries. It's also not my first. No errors anyway!! Good luck!
Gorgeous Greg! Thank you so much for your thorough and detailed lecture about this masterpiece!
You are the best teacher i will always keep looking at you’re videos. Thank you!
Thank you!!!!
Wow great video. Im really glad i stumbled upon this video
Thank you!
Hello, I watched a few of your video's and I would like to thank you very much for doing this. You gave me a better understanding of the compositions of Chopin and him self... Which I think is verry important when you want to interpret one of his pieces. The second thing is that for me Chopin was like the Beethoven of his time. When I listen to this piece and listen what you said. I truly start to think that he put everything in this Fantasy. And like Beethoven when you listen to his last piano sonata No32 op. 111, especially the Arietta. Everytime when I listen to this one, I have the impression that Beethoven put everything in this and knew its the last one. Like the end. And that feeling I have. Is the same with the Fantasy. It's a feeling... :) So again thank you alot!!! I hope you will do a few of Beethovens work.
I'm thinking of doing Beethoven's analyses as well in the future. I love it! Thank you for the comment.
Thank you so much for the analysis, I burst out into tears when hearing the last culmination part! Bravo👏 Hope you don’t mind me quoting you in my lecture in Taiwan! Best wishes to you!
Dear Yang Chien Ying, thank you so much! You made my day with your comment. Of course I don't! These videos about Chopin are here to inspire and connect all Chopin lovers in the world! I'll be extremely happy if you do that! I hope your lecture will be successful and hope to visit Taiwan one day! Best wishes from Poland!
Great demonstration, very informative and I really enjoyed watching the whole video!
Waoo. Congratulations on watching the whole video!! Thank you so much for your words!
Great! Bravo! Thank you!
You won't believe that my favourite part is not the middle section (which is, nonetheless, immensely beautiful). My favourite part is at 42:01 (and I especially like 42:08), the contrasting and intensely dramatic transition from a peaceful iteration of the first theme to the Bb passage (the polyphony reminds me of Beethoven sometimes).
42:47 I, almost randomly, noticed that the middle section of the nocturne op.9/3 (also marked agitato) has the same polyrhythmic patterns (except that this piece is in triple meter).
Wow! That's interesting and indeed, everyone is different. I do love all the piece
A great analysis, thank you. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t spent any time with this piece until recently.
Don't feel ashamed. There are so many other masterpieces of Chopin!
@gregniemczuk This is YOUR Masterpiece Video!
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you very much for this analysis ,both your vedio and the music itself made me feel the passion for life and deeply encouraged me🥲
Thank you so much!!!
Shall we call it "Polonaise Nostalgia"?
Also, I'm surprised I didn't think of the horse imagery at the end. Now that you mention it, the triplet-eighth notes together with the sixteenth note at the end of each group is, like, exactly what horses do when they gallop. They rock back and forth with three main footfalls, their front two feet falling at almost-but-not-quite-the-same time.
Thank you Greg
Great lecture as always! Which pieces are you going to do next? Really looking foreward to the fantasy, barcarolle and the impromptus!
Next week Berceuse and Barcarolle, than 4 Scherzos!
Please Greg, do an analysis about Piano Concerto No. 2 🙏🙏🙏
I will but not very soon. I think I'll do that next year!
@@gregniemczuk looking forward to that ❤️
The theme at 39:18 is so strange, because it does not seem to be re-used anywhere else in the piece. If anything, it sounds like... the first theme of the 1st movement of his Concerto no.2. Is this just a coincidence?
Umm to me the motif sounds related to the polonaise first theme
Great! Spectacular! Thank you so much for this! Do you plan to make one on the Allegro de Concert? It seems to be one of his favorite pieces and it's very beautiful and underrated
Yes!!! Of course I will! At the end of the year I think. Thanks for watching!
Hi maestro Grieg, after rewatching your analysis where you mentioned that the heart of this masterpiece quotes the same melody in etude op 25 no 5 which is sung by Chopin's mother, I also realized that the part where the trills came in is quite similar to the ending of the etude even the motive after the trills which have the six note motives and the long melody line which ends the etude.
Wow!!! Indeed!!!!! There must be some connections and meaning of that!
Ya, this piece never fails to give me goosebumps every time I hear so far and it's really awesome to see the connections between pieces which makes it so human. Really looking forward to your analysis of the rest of the Chopin's posthumous masterpieces and pieces of other composers.😀😉
what is the polish song by Chopin's mother called? is it recorded
Hi @Samaritan, sorry for the late reply. I think this is the melody which Chopin also include when he wrote his fantasy on polish air op.13. You can also check it out from maestro Greg analysis about the middle section of etude op 25 no 5.
Dear Greg, Thank you so much for this lecture. I struggled with this piece for years, maybe similar to Franz Liszt. You are correct in saying that your insights will change the way one will perceive this piece. The keys to unlocking it are the personal references which his friends were not exactly privy to. I did think that this piece was autobiographical especially with the final triumph but couldn't figure out why. The F to Eb reiterated in the last flourish did remind me of the Ab Polonaise. So that may well be a direct quote. What do you think?
Today thanks to your lecture, I played through this piece with the new insights. I still struggle with actual structure, how to put all the components together. Meanwhile, I thought about the middle section in B as the heart of the piece. Interesting to point out the 2nd chord in the introduction is Cb! Here we already have the enharmonicism beloved by Chopin appearing again at its recapitulation starting from B major to D major, and then from A major to C major. I'd be interested in your thoughts about the chromaticism of this piece, but would probably require another lecture. Thanks!
Yes!!! It's a very interesting point!
Thanks for pointing this out. Indeed. The second chord is anticipating the middle section tonality. Originally it was supposed to be C major
Delightful and insightful commentary on this absolute masterpiece. Thanks for sharing your joy in playing the Polonaise Fantasie. I don't know if Chopin had all of the programatic ideas you shared when he composed the piece (he really didn't like program music that much) but you make a strong case for considering a kind of "story." The architecture of the piece is brilliantly creative and Chopin's harmonic and chromatic boldness is absolutely breathtaking. Bravo for putting this video together! I was a little confused about your mention of the middle section in C major (It's written in B major). Are you saying that Chopin's original sketch was in C major?
Thank you. Yes, correct. His first original sketch of the middle section was in C major!
@@gregniemczuk Fascinating. How did you have access to Chopin's original sketches of the Fantasie?
@@randypolevoi7683 when I was writing my master's thesis I had access to many books about Polonaise Fantasy in which the authors - eminent musicologist, where showing this manuscript ad a proof.
@@gregniemczuk Ok. I wonder where the original manuscripts or sketches are today or if they were destroyed in WW II. Chopin Museum in Warsaw? Thanks for getting back!
@@randypolevoi7683 they might be there!
Grazie.
This is piece is so difficult to understand, but your interpretation of it is just so fantastic. What do you think of Cortots wayof pBefore you it used to be my favorite interpretation, now im so torn :)
He is very different but of course his playing has sense
I didn't understand if in this middle session I have to think about a lullaby or my school crush when I was a teenager.
Think about whatever you want. It's just interesting, what Chopin was thinking about to quote those melodies here......
Thank you so much, Greg, for bringing my attention to this incredible piece of music. I listen to Chopin‘s music since nearly 40 years, but somehow I never found this op. 61. This is, what I call a legacy, a final work of a genius, that doesn‘t tolerate contradiction. Thank you for your excellent interpretation.
Do you accept a provocative question: is this still Chopin or already Skrijabin?
Thank you! I think it's still Chopin in his transition.... Scriabin just continued this legacy.
I had the same feeling, trust me. But particularly one piece by Scriabin reminds me of this polonaise: another work of a similar title, Scriabin's Sonate-Fantaisie (coincidence?)
I had explained why I think the first movement of the latter and this piece are quite similar in the comments section of this video: ruclips.net/video/5u7JgTXPpLM/видео.html .
Is it an interpretation from your side talking for example about this and that part of the music and here Chopin wanted to be happy again like in the past? Interpretation? Or what is the source of this result of your analyse?
Yes, this is a very subjective feeling of mine, created when I was analyzing the piece but also reading his letters and biography from that period of time. I'm also writing the music so I also understand deeper but it is only my subjective feeling. But definitely there are some quotations in this piece which helps to understand it better.
@@gregniemczuk Thank you very much for your words! It's very interesting what you are doing! Please go on with it! :-)
It is a longshot, but perhaps the terms "Polonaise" and "Fantasy" should be taken more literally. If you interpret "Polonaise" as patriotism, a sort of nationalism (as it is a polish national dance), and interpret the term "Fantasy" as well, a fantasy or a dream, you could see it as a dream of a free Poland (as it was of course very oppressed during the time, with a great polish uprising happening in 1846 as well) . Especially the ending makes sense to me in this way, as with all the emotional passages, we finally end at this strong and rhythmic 'victory' sound.
Inspirational analysis! Your measured, thoughtful, and lyrical interpretation of this work is a refreshing contrast to the many hurried, disjointed recordings out there. Has the master's dissertation you mentioned been published in any form?
In Polish at my University.. but I have a pdf or doc file which I can send you if you want. You can try to google translate it
@@gregniemczuk I will wait for your best selling book on the definitive analysis and interpretation of Chopin's major works (suspect you will be too busy with recordings and concerts to write it, though.)
Was this the very last piece of music he wrote Greg?. To me, this middle section or section A is very contemporary sounding im not sure why I feel that way but it is
No no, cello Sonata, Mazurkas op 63, Valses op.64 and a few last Mazurkas a f Valse in A minor were written later. Buy this piece is very modern. He was experimenting definitely!
🙂👌👏👏
Fantasy in F major is bigger than it is.
No it's not really
@@gregniemczuk The Polonaise Fantasia is 12 minutes long while the Fantasia in F minor is 14 minutes long.
@@leonardodelyrarodrigues3752 my rendition of Polonaise Fantasia is 15 minutes long
@@gregniemczuk In fact, I really liked this video, and I went to watch your performance before when I saw your video, if you search on the internet, Fantasia in F minor is always major most of the time, both are very good, but the structure of Fantasia in F minor is frighteningly complex, it has dozens of parts.
@@leonardodelyrarodrigues3752 I'm not going to argue. My video analysis about the Fantasia is also a very long one