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Chapter 32
Frédéric Chopin
Mazurka in B Major, op. 7, no. 1
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
Texture: The Singing Piano
Melody: Scales Going Up, Scales Going Down
Form: Repetition, Variation, Contrast
Rhythm: The Pride of Poland
Connect Your Playlist: Nationalism
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
32.3 Listen to how Chopin uses scales in different directions in the Mazurka in B ,
op. 7, no. 1.
Key Concepts
homophonic texture, drone base, scalar melodies, song–
Chapter Highlight: Nineteenth-Century Piano Music
This short character piece uses the rhythms of a Polish folk dance, and in the context of
its time and place Paris in the 1830s audiences would have grasped its political
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Chapter Summary
Many listeners would say that Chopin epitomizes Romanticism. His compositions for
nature of the piece. Without words, Chopin used the piano to create poetry. He also
made political statements in his mazurkas and polonaises. Russia occupied Poland,
In this B-flat Mazurka, listeners will be able to hear the tempo rubato
associated with this style of playing. The melodic outlines of this particular mazurka
Listening Guide
Even though this mazurka is brief, the structure follows a pattern based on a rondo: A A
B A C A C A. The section designated C stands out because it is in the minor mode, as
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide: Frédéric Chopin: Mazurka in B Major, op. 7, no. 1
Chapter Audio: Chapter 32
Animated Notation: Melody: Scales Going Up, Scales Going Down
Read: The Salon
Connect Your Playlist: The Ballad
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Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
1. How did Chopin support himself financially in Paris? Compare this to Mozart and
2.
Activities and Exercises
1. If Chopin was a virtuoso pianist (and he was), are you surprised at how simple this
Journaling Prompt
Nineteenth-