The following is a list of descriptions of many of the musical forms used by Chopin and his contemporaries.  This will help you to better understand the pieces you will hear during the El Paso Chopin Music Festival.

Ballade

This is Chopin's term for a long, dramatic piano piece suggesting a story.  Chopin's four Ballades are inspired by the poems of Mickiewicz, Brahms, Greig, Liszt, and others later used in the title.

Berceuse

(Fr., 'bercer' , to rock) An instrumental cradle song or lullaby in compound duple time

Etude

(Fr., 'study') An instrumental piece to improve or demonstrate certain technical points.  However, many etudes, such as those by Chopin, have great artistic merit.

Impromptu

Originally intended to mimic an improvisational performance, the form was further developed to test experimental and often "rule-breaking" composition and performance techniques.

Mazurka

A Polish folk dance in moderate to fast 3/4 or 3/8 time.  This style of music was adapted and stylized by Chopin

Nocturne

An evening piece with two main meanings:  1.) In the 18th century, this was a composition close to a serenade for several instruments and movements; and 2.) In the romantic period of Chopin, it was a short lyrical piece in one movement for piano.

Polonaise

A stately Polish dance in moderately fast 3/4 time dating from at least the 16th century.  Composers of this style include Bach, but the most frequent examples are the 13 written by Chopin.

Prelude

Historically, the Prelude is considered an introductory piece or movement performed before a fugue, an act of an opera, etc.  Chopin and other later composers wrote preludes as short, independent piano pieces in a single movement. 

Scherzo

(It., 'Joke')  Generally, this is a lively movement, but chiefly developed by Haydn, Mozart, and particularly Beethoven, from the symphonic minuet.  Usually it is played in 3/4 time in A A B A form, with the B section being called a Trio.

Sonata

1.)  Before 1750, the term Sonata described any composition for a solo instrument or for one or more instruments accompanied by continuo, and not in any strict form; 2.)  Since 1750 (the classical period and onwards) the sonata became a three or four movement work for solo instrument, or for solo instrument with piano accompaniment.  A similar work for three performers (often two violins and cello) is called a trio Sonata.  A violin or cello sonata was a feature and became known as a sonata form.