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Huneker, James, 1860-1921

"Chopin : the Man and His Music"

" This is
quoted by Kleczynski. There are word-whisperings in the next
study in F minor, whilst the symbolism of the dance--the Valse,
Mazurka, Polonaise, Menuetto, Bolero, Schottische, Krakowiak and
Tarantella--is admirably indicated in all of them. The bells of
the Funeral March, the will o' wisp character of the last
movement of the B flat minor Sonata, the dainty Butterfly Study
in G flat, opus 25, the aeolian murmurs of the E flat Study, in
opus 10, the tiny prancing silvery hoofs in the F major Study,
opus 25, the flickering flame-like C major Study No. 7, opus 10,
the spinning in the D flat Valse and the cyclonic rush of
chromatic double notes in the E flat minor Scherzo--these are not
studied imitations but spontaneous transpositions to the ideal
plane of primary, natural phenomena.
Chopin's system--if it be a system--of cadenzas, fioriture
embellishment and ornamentation is perhaps traceable to the East.
In his "Folk Music Studies," Mr. H. E. Krehbiel quotes the
description of "a rhapsodical embellishment, called 'alap,' which
after going through a variety of ad libitum passages, rejoins the
melody with as much grace as if it had never been disunited, the
musical accompaniment all the while keeping time.


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