Richibi’s Weblog

   “Chopin’s Polonaise – a Ball in Hôtel Lambert in Paris“ (1859) 

          Teofil Kwiatkowski

                ___________

what’s the difference between 

       one, an andante spianato

       two, a polonaise

you tell me

both, of course, by Chopin

“andante” is a pace, a tempo, a little faster 

than adagio, slower than allegro, “spianato” 

is an Italian word for “smooth”, “even”

“et” is “and” in French

“polonaise” is a French adjective for 

“Polish”, as a noun it means a Polish 

dance

R ! chard

psst: if you said intention, you’re again

          right, everything else is, of course,

          Chopin, two different perspectives

          on a related issue

           think of two distinct elements 

           coming together, formally 

           conjoined, as in a mariage, 

           for better, ever, or for worse   

           or as in this Andante Spianato et

           Grande Polonaise Brillante, a

           conjunction which has lasted,  

           indeed brilliantly, for nearly two 

           hundred years, despite individual, 

           sometimes divergent, even

           conflicting, outlooks

           enjoy