Why mazurkas?
Over one hundred and fifty years before Frederic Chopin’s birth, Polish dances were in fashion throughout Europe. For the first time they became known outside Poland in the 17th century, when they reached the Scandinavian countries through Germany. Even nowadays, one of the most popular dances in Sweden or Denmark is called 'polska' and in Norway – ‘pols’. The French still play the ‘mazurka’, which had been introduced by the Polish legionnaires, who won the hearts of Parisian salons’ habitués with their dancing at the turn of the 18th and 19th century. From France the mazurkas spread further – among other countries to Italy and Austria, reaching also the western borders of Europe: Spain and Portugal. From these two countries they migrated to their colonies: the Azores, Cape Verde and Canary Islands, even to Brazil and Mexico, and they remain alive in their cultures up to this day. In Poland, these rhythms were the musical core among both the folk and the manor dwellers until the 1950s.
Today, in the early days of the 21st century, the music rooted in tradition creates a colourful puzzle that becomes a wholesome image when during one concert classical, traditional and jazz musicians play together, and bands from different parts of the world bring their own sounds, yet so close and somehow familiar to us. When we actually dance polonez, mazurek and a hundred of related dances.
Polish dance music is a priceless and vivid part of our national heritage, and has had a significant, yet undervalued impact on the European and global culture. For this impact we are indebted mainly to the creative activity of Frederic Chopin. The great role of traditional Polish music in forming of the European and worldwide musical culture is being disregarded both in our educational and artistic efforts. ‘Mazurkas of the World’ project’s main aim is to fill this gap.
Due to their extraordinary ability to migrate, the ‘Polish rhythms’, or ‘mazurka rhythms’ became part of the global culture, although in Poland most people remain unaware of it. We intend to emphasise this fact by inviting foreign artists to the Festival. Their provenance will show the way the mazurka has travelled throughout the world. Beside our guests from Sweden, who will present it's pre-Chopin spread phase, our French guests will unveil music related directly to the life of Chopin in France. We have also invited musicians and dancers from Cape Verde, where mazurkas were introduced by the Portuguese in the second half of the 19th century.
Apart from the concerts, the bands will lead dance and music workshops, perform in the Festival club and play during the ‘Dance Night’.
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