M. K. Oginsky’s polonaise: a music-theoretical analysis of the piano piece and principles of orchestration

This article examines the artistic and music-theoretical characteristics of the Polonaise in A minor, “Farewell to the Motherland” traditionally attributed to Mikhail Kleofas Oginsky. It analyzes the work’s genre, the characteristics of its melodic development, its harmonic language, textural organization, musical form, and expressive performance techniques. Particular attention is paid to the interpretation of the work in its piano version and the possibilities for its orchestral realization. The article examines the principles of distributing thematic material among the sections of a symphony orchestra, timbral combinations, dynamic development, and the preservation of the polonaise’s national and genre character within the context of orchestral texture. The issue of the work’s attribution in contemporary musicology is noted separately. The conclusion is drawn regarding the significance of the polonaise as an example of the transition from traditional dance music to a lyrically rich instrumental miniature of a pre-Romantic character.