Klarinet Archive - Posting 000207.txt from 1995/03

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Yet MORE Weber
Date: Tue, 7 Mar 1995 19:07:18 -0500

Nichelle Crocker wrote:

>I thought that a polacca was the same as a polonaise. Is it?

Yes polacca is the Italian word for polonaise.

>If it is, then why should the tempo vary from another polonaise? If it is not,
>then what is the difference? Any listening suggestions that might help me?

The marking, "Alla Polacca," means "As a polonaise". A polonaise is "A
stately, marchlike Polish dance in triple time". So, I would play it with
that type of character in mind.

>It appears that the issue of tempo, then, is dependent on the dance character
>of the movement.

Absolutely.

>I always thought of a polonaise tempo as more stately...
>Am I mistaken?

Nope. You're right on the money, as the above definition from American
Heritage shows.

------------------

Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net