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As part of the 2010 Birmingham International Piano Academy, Stephen Johnson is joined by pianist Ashley Wass at the Birmingham Conservatoire to explore the intricacies and folk-music elements in Chopin's Mazurkas and Polonaises. It's widely thought that Chopin's first ever composition was a Polonaise (which he wrote at the age of seven) and his last, fittingly, was a Mazurka. His 58 Mazurkas and 25 Polonaises, based on traditional Polish folk-dances, signalled new ideas of musical nationalism which influenced and inspired other composers to support their national music.
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