Polonaises, Op. 26 (Chopin)

The Polonaise opens with a fiery Allegro appassionato in C-sharp minor, the primary theme preceded by descending octaves.

The section climaxes with a series of virtuosic arpeggio figures which give way to a tender melody.

After this opening section, there is a new theme introduced in the enharmonic D-flat major.

This new theme is then developed and followed by a new left hand melody, which increases the tension until a repeat of the meno mosso.

Following the return of the main theme, the piece closes with subtlety, like its opus companion.