polonaise

     

The polonaise (Polish: polonez, chozony; Italian: polacca) is a rather slow dance of Polish origin, in 3/4 time. Its name is French for "Polish." The notation alla polacca on a score indicates that the piece should be played with the rhythm and character of a polonaise (e.g., the rondo in Beethoven's Triple Concerto op. 56 has this instruction).

Trivia about polonaise

  • It's a French name for a Polish dance, as well as a fitted top & overskirt ensemble of the 1700s
  • Chopin was born in Poland, & his first printed work at age 7 was one of these appropriately named pieces
  • This court dance in triple time, not the polka, is the national dance of Poland