Mazurka

A Polish dance in triple time

The mazurka is a mostly lively Polish national dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time. The word comes from the Polish “mazurek” and is traced back to the name of a Polish region, Mazovia or Masuria, depending on the account. In general the mazurka is in 3/4; its special hallmark is the subdivision of the first beat, for example into a dotted eighth note or an eighth-note triplet, and, following from that, the shift of stress to the second beat. The strong accents fall irregularly on the second or third beat.

How to recognise the mazurka in the score

You look for three things: triple time, a subdivided first beat and accent signs on a later beat. Often the accompaniment is a clue as well: a low quarter note in the bass and two higher quarter notes as a chord, the typical waltz accompaniment. What distinguishes the mazurka is the shift of stress.

The table sums up what is on the sheets. In “Adelita” the first beat has a pair of eighth notes and the half note begins on the second. In the version for two guitars the accent sits exactly there. The tempo, however, does not fit the rule “usually lively”: both versions are marked “Lento”, that is, slow. “Usually lively” is a rule with exceptions.

Mazurkas in the sheet music archive

Mazurka for guitar

• Adelita Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909) · guitar solo · 1 page

  Subtitle “Mazurka für Gitarre” (“Mazurka for guitar”), above it “Lento”, 3/4 time, one sharp, p. Part A runs from bar 1 to 8 and lies between repeat signs; above the end of bar 8 is “Fine”. From bar 9 the key signature has four sharps, with mf; part B runs to bar 16 and ends with “D.C. al Fine”. The result is the order A – B – A.

Mazurka for two guitars

• Adelita Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909), arranged by J. J. Olson · two guitars · 1 page

  Subtitle “Mazurka für zwei Gitarren” (“Mazurka for two guitars”), “Lento”, 3/4 time, chord symbols Em, F♯° and B. In bars 1, 2 and 3 Guitar I has an accent sign on the note that begins on the second beat; in bars 1 and 2 this is a half note after two eighth notes. Guitar II plays low notes and chords beneath the melody. At the end is “D.S. al Fine”.

Mazurka in the title, but not in triple time

• Claro de Luna Francisco Tárrega (1852–1909) · guitar · 4 pages

  The subtitle reads “Mazurka für Gitarre” (“Mazurka for guitar”), but the time signature on page 1 is C, not 3/4; beneath it is “sempre pp”. On pages 2 to 4 no new time signature can be seen. Whether the subtitle goes back to the source is not stated on the sheet.

Distinctions

The krakowiak is a different Polish dance: it is in duple time, the mazurka in triple time. Both shift the stress, the krakowiak by a quarter note between the beats, the mazurka by an accent that usually moves to the second, sometimes to the third beat. What sets it apart from the waltz in three-four time is the weight of the beats: in the waltz the emphasis lies on beat one.

Common mistakes

• Putting the accent on beat one: That turns the mazurka into a waltz. The accent belongs to the note on the second beat, not to the whole bar.
• Taking the title for the time signature: Not every piece with the word “mazurka” is in triple time; “Claro de Luna” has the time signature C on the sheet.
• Guessing the tempo: A mazurka is regarded as “usually lively”, yet “Adelita” says “Lento”. What counts is what is on the sheet.