Polina Oginsky (notes for piano) was once as popular as it is now rock

Polonaise is an old Polish dance. This is not an ordinary dance, but a procession, traditionally performed at weddings, at the very beginning of the ball. It set the tone for the whole holiday, emphasized its lofty character. Dance is performed according to certain rules, couples perform strictly defined figures.

Polonaise - Polish folk dance, which was very common, was used at every dance evening, regardless of where it was held: in rich living rooms and on a rural holiday.

Composer and patriot

Mikhail Kleofas Oginsky is one of the representatives of the Polish nobility. In a difficult time for his homeland, when several European powers (Russia, Austria and Prussia) systematically destroyed Poland, took part in organizing the uprising. He gave all his money to this resistance, he himself became the head of the detachment he had created. This uprising is known as the "Kosciuszko uprising". But, of course, two and a half thousand people could do nothing with the armies of the three European powers, so the uprising was suppressed.

After the defeat of the uprising, Oginsky managed to avoid captivity and hide under fake documents. He traveled through Austria to Italy, to Venice.

Polonaise

The Oginsky Polonaise was written in exile in the city of Venice. In the original it is called "Farewell to the Motherland". It is very characteristic that for such a tragic work the favorite folk dance is chosen. Initially, the work was written for the clavier, but then it was transferred to many other instruments.

In Europe, quickly recognized this beautiful music - Polonaise of Oginsky. The piano notes were of course not yet widely used, they were performed on other instruments. The piano itself appeared in the modern form only in the middle of the 18th century. But gradually, in the first half of the 19th century, this instrument spreads, first of all, in Petersburg.

Sheet music "Polonaise of Oginsky" for piano

Oginsky was amnestied by Emperor Alexander I, he was returned to some of his estates and even given the opportunity to live in the territory of modern Belarus, that is, virtually return to his homeland.

Balls, such fashionable in St. Petersburg and Moscow, gradually made the Polonaise of Oginsky very popular. Piano notes appeared, they became popular not only musicians, but also county young ladies. Home concerts, small balls - on these here now also often sounds polonaise Oginsky. Notes for piano appeared in 1831, they were published in Italy. There is evidence that Oginsky himself published his works on his account a little earlier, but the Italian edition became known. Now there are publications that Polonaise Oginsky (notes for piano) is written at all and not Oginsky, and not at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, but much later. Of course, it is difficult to understand what kind of music was performed at that time, because there are naturally no audio recordings. But there is evidence. For example, Faddei Benediktovich Bulgarin writes about such a work as the polonaise of Oginsky. Notes for piano, orchestral performance of this work are known to all performers and fans of good music. Such evidence can not be ignored.