Global Fascinations and Sophistications

Chopin Mazurkas

Chopin Mazurkas, from early electrical recording, have become the priority of the greatest interpreters - Ignaz Friedman and Artur Rubinstein taking pride of place for their mastery of colour allied to an inner understanding of how to correctly encompass the stilted rhythm of this Polish national dance, and apply rubato to the phrase structures without disrupting the pulse.

As points for comparison, they give little chance to today's pianists, but Chinese-American Frederic Chiu, a pupil of Abbey Simon, has delved into their scene changes in order to reappraise varied pulse essentials and note emphases. As with his 9 volume edition of the complete solo Prokofiev, he provides valid musical researches in his notes which listeners should study closely parallel to the renditions.

The enormous span of achievement here spreads over 17 years of Chopin's life, basically plotting his development from ardent patriot to mature artist, the length of individual numbers - 31 in all - varying from 1 - 6 minutes according to contrasts of material. Chiu has this firmly fixed in his planning, and the recording is one of the best reproductions of solo piano to come my way [listen - CD 2 track 18, 1:52-2:47].

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