The first Mazurka, in B flat major, is full of vigour and dynamism. The ‘outer’ space – given to the actual dance – is occupied by a mazur. In its swashbuckling character, it is similar to the Mazurka in B flat major from Op. 7. It is shaped from two periods standing opposite one another and regularly intertwining. The first is dominated by the melodic line, coloured by thirds and sixths. In the second, it is the force and expression of the chords that takes the upper hand, linked by a syncopated rhythm. Chopin gave the middle section of the B flat major Mazurka to the gently or sweetly (dolce) rocking melody of a kujawiak, coquettishly bedecked with grace notes and mordents – a melody in triple time that runs above an accompaniment played in a duple time. As Tadeusz Zieliński noted, it seems that Chopin wanted to record a practice employed by rural musicians.Author: Mieczysław TomaszewskiA series of programmes entitled ‘Fryderyk Chopin's Complete Works’Polish Radio 2