The National Spirit Of Struggle

Chopin's Polonaise dance music best represents the national character as well as the national consciousness and feelings. It is not difficult for us to find in the real music life that people are more familiar with Polonaise dance music than Mazurka, another type of dance music with national spirit. Because the former is played more often, thus gaining higher popularity than the later. Chopin's Polonaise dance music has exerted far-reaching influence on the development of music on the world-wide scale and rendered us plentiful inspirations. However, the relevant research on Chopin's Polonaise dance music is comparatively insufficient. This paper bases its research on the intensive analysis of Chopin's two pieces known as "Army forces" and "Hero", with a view to further study the national spirit of his piano pieces. It also analyzes and sorts the seventeen pieces of his piano music in terms of serial number, time, background and a brief introduction, which facilitates a deeper understanding of the national spirit of his creationThis thesis consists of four parts, beginning with an analysis of Chopin's Polonaise dance music in order to explore national spirit. Part one unfolds the background of his Polonaise dance music by studying Chopin himself as a national representative of Poland, the influence of Polonaise national music on Chopin and his style of creation. Part two explores the way he carries forward the tradition of music and brings new elements into it by discussing his seventeen Polonaise pieces of dance music in terms of the historical background, structure and creating features. Part three has made a deep analysis of the two most influential Polonaise pieces of dance music, known as "Army Forces" and "Hero", to uncover the strong national character. As the main body of the paper, this part is developed on the basis of an analysis of their chronological background, music and elements. Part four makes a discussion of the far-reaching influence which the national spirit of Polonaise dance music has exerted upon the development of the worldwide music, and the inspirations for us.