Polonaise (dance)

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Typical rhythm of a polonaise

The polonaise (from French : danse polonaise "Polish dance"; Italian. Polacca , Polish. Polonez ) is a Polish national dance in which couples dance in a round and moderate tempo according to certain figures gracefully and majestically to music in the polonaise rhythm Walk hall.

The dance was created at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century as a procession dance on the large and small aristocratic farms of the Szlachta (Polish nobility) to pay homage to the legally homogeneous, democratic aristocratic republic of Poland-Lithuania . In the country, the polonaise was mainly danced during wedding celebrations. In folk music, however, the dance was referred to as walking, slow, large, goose or hop dance, depending on the region. The name "Polonaise" did not arise until 1730. The dance had previously spread through the court of Heinrich III. from France, the former king of Poland, first spread in France and then became popular in the ballrooms of the European aristocratic courts. In French, therefore, one spoke of the danse polonaise (the Polish dance). The Polish name Polonez is therefore also derived from the French term Polonaise.

history

Korneli Szlegel: "Polonaise under the open sky"

The polonaise is the oldest Polish national dance, along with the mazurka and Krakowiak . It is assumed that the polonaise rhythm comes from the time before the Christianization of Poland and was not music in the narrower sense, but only served the ritual of the expulsion of devils by the Volkhvy (pagan priests of the pre-Christian Rus ). As a processional dance in homage and honor of the legally homogeneous, democratic aristocratic republic of Poland-Lithuania , the taniec polski (Polish dance) became popular at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century on the large and small aristocrats of the Szlachta (Polish nobility). In folk music, he was depending on the region as Chodzony (Gehtanz), called Slow, Big, goose or hop dance. At the end of the 16th and 17th centuries, the polonaise is mainly in German collections under the names Taniec polski, Chorea polonica or Polacca . B. in the organ tablature by EN Ammerbach (1583) or in the lute book by Johannes Arpinus (after 1585). The name "Polonaise" did not come about until 1730, when the dance was introduced by Heinrich III. first spread in France and then became popular in the ballrooms of the European aristocratic courts, one spoke in French of the danse polonaise (Polish dance). The Polish name Polonez is derived from the French word "Polonaise".

The polonaise in three time with the characteristic rhythmic figure Polonez r1.svgand the final bar Polonez r3.pngis only known in this form from the early 18th century. Instrumental stylized preliminary stages can be found in the lute book of Virginia R. von Gehama (approx. 1604). Johann Sebastian Bach wrote strongly stylized polonaises until 1750 (e.g. in the French Suites and the Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor ). Since Ludwig van Beethoven , the original exhilaration and dignity have been brought back to life. It is significant that the most famous polonaises were composed abroad, mainly during the period after the partitions of Poland (1772–1918), when the Polish people fought for independence and the re-establishment of their state. This includes u. a. the polonaise for piano in A minor "Pożegnanie Ojczyzny" (Farewell to the Fatherland) by Polish nobleman Michał Kleofas Ogiński , which he composed in 1794 after he had to leave his Zalesie estate near Vilnius due to new political unrest. As a stylized, so-called melancholic polonaise, it is not intended for dance, but one of the earliest musical works of the Romantic era , characterized on the one hand by the melancholy romanticism of parting, and in the middle part by national consciousness. Ogiński's polonaise had a great influence on many composers. Today it is known in numerous arrangements, also as a ringtone for mobile phones. Also in the national operas by Stanisław Moniuszko such as B. Halka and Das Gespensterschloss are well-known polonaises.

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Polonaise No. 4 and 5
Frédéric Chopin:
Polonaise in A flat major op.53

Numerous non-Polish composers wrote polonaises. B. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Franz Schubert , Vincenzo Bellini , Carl Maria von Weber , Robert Schumann , Franz Liszt , Moritz Moszkowski , Friedrich Baumfelder , Mauro Giuliani , Modest Mussorgsky , Pjotr ​​Ilyich Tschaikowski and Alexander Scriabin .

However, the most famous polonaise was written by Frédéric Chopin . His Polonaise in A major op. 40,1 "Military" and Polonaise in A major "Heroic" are among his most important piano works and are preferred pieces by many piano virtuosos. Today the polonaise is often danced as an introduction to balls , mostly to the “fan polonaise ” by Carl Michael Ziehrer . It has become even more popular recently thanks to the film Pan Tadeusz (1999) , in which Wojciech Kilar († 2013) dances solemnly to the polonaise at the end . Kilars Polonaise is now a very popular dance at the Polish Abiball and recently also on Poland's streets and squares, where it is danced together with representatives of the city.

The national anthem of Finland and the national anthem of Estonia - both have the same melody - are written in the polonaise rhythm. The polonaise can also be found in the Polish Christmas carols : W żłobie leży, Dzisiaj w Betlejem, Bóg się rodzi, Serca ludzkie się radują , but also in O Tannenbaum . After the waltz, the polonaise is one of the most popular dances at weddings .

Dance a polonaise

The long, flowing step is underlined by a proud posture. The dance step begins with a slight knee bend (plié) of one leg, the second leg is then stretched, followed by two steps in a row. Although it is a rather slow dance, it is enriched by varied figures. The most famous are rows of four, circles, serpentines and tunnels (bridges) .

The basic figure is a dance : the dancers stand in pairs one behind the other. The partner places her left hand on the partner's right hand with the arms stretched out a little and the elbows slightly bent. The other arms are stretched downwards. The partner can easily hold her dress with her right hand or stretch her arm slightly. The partner can hold the left hand at hip level or along the leg. The posture of both partners should be straight and their heads proudly raised. The partners bow to each other very often throughout the dance.

Polonaise Blankenese

Ever since Werner Böhm, alias Gottlieb Wendehals, asked the audience in 1981 with his German mood song Polonäse Blankenese , "We're going with big steps, and Erwin takes Heidi by the shoulder from behind." And the song with these dance movements has been an integral part of Carnival, Fastnacht and Carnival in Germany is colloquially referred to as polonaise dancing. But the mood song has nothing in common with historical dance. It was neither composed in the polonaise rhythm nor can you dance the polonaise classically.

See also

Web links

Wiktionary: Polonaise  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Commons : Polonaise  - collection of images, videos and audio files