Krakowiak

What it means

The krakowiak is a Polish folk dance from the region around Kraków, after which it is named. It stands in duple time and has a lively, proud character.

Characteristic are syncopated rhythms, in which the accent is shifted to the second eighth note of the bar, as well as a vigorous close to the phrases, marked in dancing by clicking the heels together. The dancers move in couples with quick, stamping steps.

The krakowiak is to be distinguished from the polonaise and the mazurka, the two other well-known Polish dances: both stand in triple time, the polonaise measured and solemn, the mazurka with accents on the second or third beat. The krakowiak is the only one of the three in duple time.

In the notation

The krakowiak stands in duple time. The characteristic syncopation — an eighth note, a quarter note, an eighth note — often appears at the beginning of the bar. The phrases often end with accented quarter notes on both beats. The form is divided into clearly organized, repeated sections.

Musical use

As a folk dance the krakowiak was widespread in southern Poland. In the nineteenth century it became a social dance and found its way into art music, where it counted as an expression of Polish character. It appears in piano works, concert movements, and stage music by Polish and other composers.

In nineteenth-century operas it appears, for instance, in Glinka's A Life for the Tsar. It stands in duple time with syncopated rhythms in which the second eighth note is accented. The dancers click their heels, and quick changing steps are typical. In the nineteenth century the krakowiak became the Polish national dance and appeared in art music, for instance in Chopin's Rondo à la Krakowiak for piano and orchestra.

Performance practice

Work out the syncopation clearly, for it is the dance's hallmark. Keep the tempo lively and the character proud. Accent the phrase endings firmly. And take care that the duple metre remains perceptible despite the syncopations.