Polonaise in A-flat major, op. 53 or (fr. Polonaise héroïque "Heroic Polonaise") was written by Frédéric Chopin in 1842. This masterpiece is one of Chopin's most popular compositions and is still a current favorite of the classical pianoforte repertoire. The song requires exceptional pianistic skills and requires virtuosity in order to be played at an appropriate level of quality.
Although the piece is labeled as a polonaise, it has little to do with the typical polonaise style. It presents 2 sections with a polonaise rhythm, but most of it has no particular polonaise attribute. It has been said that Chopin had composed the piece having a free and powerful Poland in mind, which may led him to label it as a Polonaise.
Another possibility is that among other polonaises compositions by Chopin, the Polonaise Military is closely related to the Heroic Polonaise. The introduction section of the Heroic Polonaise is obviously inspired by the Military polonaise, which, unlike the Heroic, was a true polonaise. This could also explain the polonaise label that was given to the Op. 53 A flat major, which Chopin could have considered has a follow-up to the Military Polonaise.
It was the last piece of music broadcasted on Warsaw radio before the city surrendered to the Nazis.
