The raised fourth degree of the scale in Chopin's mazurkas

Abstract

This article focuses on che raised. fourth or Lydian scale degree of the scale in Chopin's mazurkas from the viewpoint of the stylised mazurka's fusion of folkloric elements and nineteenth-century tonal language. A brief exposition of the functions of the raised fourth and its integradon into the tonal structures of the mazurkas is given. An investigation of the raised fourth in three selected mazurkas· reveals a significant expansion of its role musi~al meaning, function and effect, As an authentic, modal, structural, motivic and form-generating device, it is in terms of integral co tonal elaboration, development, unification, colouration and contrast.