I was learning a mazurka-inspired guitar piece by Julio Sagreras when I realized that I had no clear idea as to what a mazurka is. So I looked around, and came up with these illuminations:


MAZURKA

mazurka.jpg


The mazurka (in Polish, mazurek) is a Polish folk dance in triple meter, usually at a lively tempo, and with accent on the second or third beat. (Wikipedia)


 

Bolshoi Ballet Mazurka : 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sb7gp98wAc

 

Horowitz plays a Chopin Mazurka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8PJsjO1u5w

 

A Klezmer Mazurka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG2BHc0nU2E

 

Debussy Mazurka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWZqTDVqgu4

 

So the mazurka, it seems, is like the blues or the sonnet: a form with which you can say just about anything.