Adams Morgan in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Scherzos
Fryderyk Chopin
| | Creation | |
'How should gravity array itself when jest is already darkly robed?'
— Robert Schumann
In the tradition of the genre, the scherzo, which in Italian means 'joke', altered in terms of forms and function, although it retained its light and cheerful mood. Only in the output of Beethoven did it acquire expression full of restlessness. Chopin adopted that model, isolated the scherzo from the sonata cycle and turned it into an elaborate, independent work in one movement. Previously associated with lightness and humour, the genre changed its character entirely, becoming a virtuosic and dramatic work.
In Chopin's scherzos, the unbridled Romantic emotionality — in the outer sections is contrasted with deeply moving lyrical middle sections. In the Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20, Chopin quotes the carol-lullaby 'Lulajże Jezuniu', which brings a nostalgic soothing.
Erected by Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC; The Fryderyk Chopin Institute.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 55.477′ N, 77° 2.198′
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. within walking distance of this location: Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Etudes (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Mikołaj Kopernik (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Ballades (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Maria Skłodowska Curie (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Ignacy Łukasiewicz (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Rudolf Weigl (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Wisława Szymborska (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Henryk Arctowski
More about this marker.
[Captions:]
Fryderyk Chopin
Scherzo in C sharp minor, Op. 39
Breitkopf & Hδrtel edition, 1840
Fryderyk Chopin Museum
Eugeniusz Pichell
Scherzo in B minor, 1965
woodcut on paper
Fryderyk Chopin Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
