About this work
Chopin’s Mazurka op. 30 no. 1 opens with a single note in the right hand. It continues into the next bar before the melody comes alive with grace notes and chromatic changes of colour. The left hand waits through the first beat before placing its chords. That slight delay gives the phrase its sway.
Let the melody sing above the chords
First practise the upper line without the grace notes, following the long slurs. Add the ornaments without giving them the weight of the main notes. In the opening passages, keep the left-hand chords lighter than the melody and listen for their entry after the rest. Heavy accompaniment can quickly weigh down the dance.
In the passage marked con anima, the bass moves while the right hand holds some notes and keeps others in motion. Play the lower notes alone to hear that progression, then bring the voices together while retaining the written sustained notes. The poco ritenuto prepares the return of the opening phrase. Allow that easing of pace without losing the thread of the three beats.
What the document contains
The PDF contains the complete mazurka for solo piano on two pages. It follows the digital transcription of the Breitkopf & Härtel first edition made available by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute on Chopin Scores, under the CC BY 4.0 licence. The edition’s credits are retained. The MIDI lets you hear both hands. The preview shows the older Mutopia engraving. The downloadable PDF differs from the older Mutopia engraving, particularly in its pedal markings and some slurs.
To take this work further, compare the Mazurka op. 30 no. 2, the Mazurka op. 33 no. 1 and the Waltz op. 69 no. 2, available on LesPartitions.info.