The Polonaises Op. posth[umous] include Frédéric Chopin's polonaises that were unpublished during his life.
Chopin's father Nicolas Chopin published these works on behalf of his son. The Polonaises in G minor and B-flat major are among these posthumous pieces and relative.
Polonaise in G minor was either the first or second of Chopin's Polonaises, the other one being Polonaise in B-flat major. The piece was written in 1817, when he was only seven and was dedicated to Lady Wiktoria Skarbek, the wife of his godfather.[1][2][3]
The piece consists of two main parts; a minor dance section which lasts 12 measures, and major section, which consists of a variation of the first dance along with a trio. This goes on for 26 measures, by which it then repeats to the minor dance section.[2]
Polonaise in B-flat major, or B. 3 was also written when Chopin was seven. Though Chopin asked to have it burned after death, it was published in 1879.[4]
This piece was dedicated to his teacher, Wojciech Żywny (1756–1842) and is commonly referred to as B.5. It was not first published until 1901.[5]
Polonaise in G-sharp minor, was not published until a year after his death in 1850.[6]
This polonaise quotes the tenor cavatina "Vieni fra queste braccia" from Rossini's opera La gazza ladra, which Chopin had seen with his father's friend, the composer Oskar Kolberg.[citation needed]
B.6, or Polonaise in G-flat major, was the final polonaise that was published posthumously.[7]
On some CDs, these pieces are respectively designated as "Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16" in the order presented above. Some other CDs give a different numbering system, which comparatively gives "Nos. 15, 16, 11, 12, 13 & 14" or "Nos. 15, 16, 13, 14, 11 & 12".[citation needed]