Frédéric Chopin

Chopin had several love affairs during his short 39 years, the most famous and enduring of which was with novelist Aurore Dupin Dudevant, better known by her pseudonym of George Sand. Their relationship began in 1838. Chopin wrote this C sharp minor mazurka shortly after he had returned from Majorca with her, where he had been seriously ill with tubercular infection throughout the winter of 1838-39.

Clearly the mood of the work reflects a happy Chopin at the outset, a man whose life is filled with joy and hope. This is one mazurka that sounds dance-like, too, unlike a good many of the 51 he wrote. In the middle section, Chopin becomes reflective and the mood vaguely suggests a conflict, as the main theme seems to struggle in making its return. Near the end, the dance melody is converted into an heroic theme, after which the music fades amid hazy darkness, the joy and happiness from the opening completely absent.

Marked Maestoso, this mazurka seems a microcosm of a life cycle, moving from the happiness of childhood onto conflict and triumph, and finally to death. A typical performance of this C sharp minor mazurka lasts about four minutes.