Mazurka

In Mazurka (2022), my deep admiration and extensive study of Scriabin and Chopin meet in a new work that breathes life into the hallowed mazurka form—a form I’ve explored both at the keyboard and through in-depth analysis. Commissioned by and dedicated to the outstanding Anna Kijanowska, with support from WPTA Poland and the University of Silesia, the piece reflects the lasting influence of those composers on my own voice.

As a genre steeped in tradition and characterized by its distinctive rhythm, the mazurka provides the canvas for a series of aural reflections shaped by my engagement with Scriabin’s mysticism and Chopin’s poetic subtlety. The dance framework is reimagined through improvisatory gestures and shifting colors, revealing both a sense of nostalgia and modern vitality. Employing a condensed rondo form, the piece leads the pianist through territory that feels at once familiar and new—a continuation of the mazurka’s evolution seen through a contemporary lens.

Instrumentation: Piano solo

Duration: ≈ 4½ minutes | Level: Medium-Advanced | Publisher: Lyric Row Press