Polonaisen op. 26-61

In his polonaises Chopin takes on the tradition of a genre recently endowed with the function of national dance. Three childhood polonaises constitute a replica of the model of the functional dance, while each of the later worksof this genre has its own character: lyric, dramatic or heroic. Tied into the interpretations were subjects such as the struggle for freedom, the knightly andinsurgent traditions and sometimes they came to have a symbolic functionin Polish history.

Critical source-edition edited by Jan Ekier and Pawel Kaminski based on manuscripts, copies approved by Chopin himself, and first editions. Its purpose is to present the works of Chopin in authentic form. The miniature version of the National Edition does not contain source commentary or performance notes.