Mazurka facts for kids
The Mazurka is a lively Polish folk dance. It started in a region of Poland called Mazovia, close to the city of Warsaw. The people from this area are known as Mazurs. This dance has been around since the 16th century. By the 17th century, it was popular all over Poland. In the 19th century, the Mazurka became known in England and later in the United States. It is quite similar to another Polish dance called the Kujawiak, which comes from a nearby area.
Contents
What is the Mazurka Dance?
Music and Rhythm
The Mazurka is usually a lively dance. Its music is in 3/4 metre, which means it has three beats in each bar. You will often hear dotted rhythms in Mazurka music. Sometimes, the fourth note of the scale is played a bit higher, or sharpened.
Dance Steps
Dancers often click their heels. This usually happens on the second or third beat of the music. The Mazurka can be fast or slow. It is often seen as a wilder dance than the waltz. The waltz also uses 3/4 time, but it became a very popular ballroom dance.
Famous Mazurka Composers
Frédéric Chopin's Mazurkas
The famous composer Frédéric Chopin wrote over 50 mazurkas. He wrote them especially for the piano. Chopin's mazurkas are very beautiful. They show his great genius for music. Each piece is different and interesting. Many of them are not too hard to play. Some of his mazurkas have very chromatic parts. This means they use notes that are outside the main scale.
Other Composers
Other classical composers also wrote mazurkas. However, most people agree that none are as good as Chopin's. Some Russian composers wrote them too. These include Glinka and Tchaikovsky. The Mazurka was very popular in Russia in the 19th century. It is often mentioned in Russian novels from that time. In the 20th century, Karol Szymanowski also wrote several mazurkas.
See also
In Spanish: Mazurca para niños
