last note of each phrase is adorned throughout with lovely col-
oristic embellishments. After a return to the first theme, the
second part is also repeated; this time with striking modulatory
changes which strongly resemble the mood of Wotan’s Farewell,
in the third Act of Wagner’sValkyrie. A long and fiery coda
of new thematic material closes the work. The major ending is
like a shaft of light dispelling storm-tossed clouds.
Chopin’s works are so instinct with genius and have proved to
be so immortal that they may well be considered as ideal wit-
nesses to the triumph of quality over mere quantity or sensa-
tional display. To-day, when we suffer from musical bombast,
their refined message is of special significance.