Chopin: Polonaise Op. 53 In A Flat Major by Horowitz

肖邦, 降A大調 波蘭舞曲《英雄》 （作品53號）

Polonaise, Op. 53 (Chopin)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
The Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 or (fr. Polonaise héroïque Heroic Polonaise) was written by Frédéric Chopin in 1842 for solo piano. This masterpiece is one of Chopin's most popular compositions and is still a current favorite of the classical pianoforte repertoire. The piece requires exceptional pianistic skills and requires virtuosity in order to be played at an appropriate level of quality.

Although the piece is labeled as a polonaise, it has little to do with the typical polonaise style. It presents two sections with a polonaise rhythm, but most of it has no particular polonaise attribute. It has been said that Chopin had composed the piece having a free and powerful Poland in mind, which may have lead him to label it as a Polonaise.

Another possibility is that the Heroic Polonaise is closely related to the Polonaise in A major, Op.40, No. 1, known as the Military Polonaise. The introduction section of the Heroic is obviously inspired by the Military, which, unlike the Heroic, was a true polonaise.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonaise%2C_Op._53_%28Chopin%29

 

Vladimir Horowitz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Vladimir Samoylovich Horowitz (Russian: Владимир Самойлович Горовиц, Vladimir Samojlovič Gorovits; Ukrainian: Володимир Самійлович Горовиць, Volodymyr Samiylovich Horovyts) (1 October 1903 – 5 November 1989) was a Russian-American[1][2] pianist. In his prime, he was considered one of the most distinguished pianists of any age. His technique, use of tone color and the excitement of his playing are legendary. Though sometimes criticized for being overly mannered and showy, he has a huge and passionate following and is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century.
 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Horowitz

[YuGong]

降A大調 波蘭舞曲《英雄》 （作品53號）

　　這是一首充滿戰鬥力量和英雄氣概，以《英雄》而著名的波蘭舞曲，作於1842年。 肖邦的波蘭舞曲根據其內容可分為兩類，其一是以強壯的、雄糾糾的節奏，敘述波蘭往昔封建時代的繁華；另一類則為憂鬱的情緒，反映在沙皇俄國壓製之下苦難的波蘭。這一《英雄》波蘭舞曲為前一類中的傑出代表。本曲氣勢磅礴，一氣嗬成，簡直就是一首波瀾壯闊的交響詩。因此有人認為本曲是作者用來描述十七世紀的一位波蘭民族英雄抵抗外敵入侵的光輝史詩。肖邦的作品中有各式各樣的英雄形象，本曲的主人公無疑是最具代表性的，肖邦在這一形象中傾注了自己全部的愛國熱情。

　　樂曲的構成為複三段體：

　　第一段：降A大調。在音量逐漸增強的序奏之後，無比輝煌的英雄主題進入，充滿著信心與力量，是一種不屈不撓的戰鬥精神的體現（片段1）。

　　第二段：從E大調起經過各種轉調又回到降A大調。肖邦利用鋼琴描繪出一段驚心動魄的戰鬥場麵：左手在低音部以十六分音符八度雙音奏出均勻而清脆的馬蹄聲，越來越快、越來越強，仿佛革命力量匯集成為千軍萬馬之勢；右手則在高音部奏出雄壯的進軍號聲，表現出一往無前的英雄氣概（片段2）。

　　第三段：降A大調。是第一段的再現，但通過變化使整體氣勢更加宏偉，最後在勝利凱歌中結束全曲。

　　一位鋼琴家評價道："這是肖邦鋼琴作品中的頂峰，發揮出了最為壯大的氣勢，具有最為完美的結構。這首優美的作品最先打動我們的是：宏大的構想，高揚的樂念，強壯的效果靈感。正如所有讚美著過去的輝煌作品一般，肖邦使人們聽到了穿戴鎧甲的波蘭祖先們的腳步聲，看到了波蘭先輩們的雄姿。"

Source: http://www.hongen.com/art/gdyy/amqbl/ga30307.htm