mazurka
A Polish folk dance in triple meter with accents on the second or third beat.
In Depth
The mazurka is a Polish folk dance in triple meter, distinguished from the waltz by its characteristic accent on the second or third beat rather than the first. The dance originated in the Mazovia region of central Poland and comes in several regional varieties, each with a different character and tempo.
Chopin composed at least 58 mazurkas for piano, transforming the folk dance into an art form of extraordinary subtlety and depth. His mazurkas range from joyful and rustic to melancholy and deeply introspective, and they represent some of his most personal and experimental music. Through Chopin, the mazurka became a symbol of Polish national identity.
Chopin asked for his unpublished mazurkas to be burned after his death. His family ignored his wish, and some of his most beautiful mazurkas were published posthumously.