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Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante in E-flat major, Op. 22, was composed by Frédéric Chopin between 1830 and 1834. The Grande Polonaise brillante in E-flat, set for piano and orchestra, was written first, in 1830-31. In 1834, Chopin wrote an Andante spianato in G, for piano solo, which he added to the start of the piece, and joined the two parts with a fanfare-like sequence. The combined work was published in 1836 as Op. 22, and was dedicated to Madame d’Este.

Frédéric Chopin composed his Scherzo No.4 in E major, Op. 54, the 4th and the last of his scherzos, in 1842.

The Scherzo No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin begins in the key of C-sharp minor, then moves to D-flat major, and returns to C-sharp minor, concluding in C-sharp major. It was completed in 1839.

The Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 is Frédéric Chopin’s most famous scherzo. The work was composed and published in 1837, and was dedicated to Countess Adele Fürstensein.
The scherzo is in sonata form. The beginning is marked Presto and opens in B flat minor. However, most of the work is written in D flat major and A major. The opening to the piece consists of two arpeggiated pianissimo chords, and after a moments pause,goes into a set of fortissimo chords,an unmistakable use of contrast, then returning to the quiet arpeggiated chords.

The Scherzo No. 1 begins with two repititions of 4 notes, followed by two chords in fortissimo, an impassioned outburst in B minor follows, unlike anything he had previously written. In the central section where the key changes to B major, Chopin quotes from an old Polish Christmas song, and this forms a calm contrast to the restless outer section. The work is technically very demanding.

By Yundi Li

Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 sheet music: