This short piece for piano by Berkeley was part of a two set work, the other piece, "Bagatelle for two piano's" op.101/1 having been written the year before in 1981. The" Mazurka"was commissioned in 1982 by the B.B.C. to mark the 250th anniversary of Haydn's birth. It was first performed in March of that year by the British composer and pianist,John McCabe, at Broadcasting House in London. Berkeley himself was 79 years of age when he wrote this "Mazurka" and it was to be the last piano piece he was to write before his death in 1989.

Earlier in his career in 1949, he had also written a commemorative piece entitled, the "Three Mazurka" op.32/ 1, for Chopin's birth centenial celebrations and which was commissioned by U.N.E.S.C.O. The thing that strikes you about the "Mazurka" op 101 /2, in contrast to the jauntiness and vigour of Berkeley's earlier works such as his "March"(1924), is that there is a noticeably reflective and comtemplative aspect to the piece, which of course when one reflects on the events in Berkeley's private life at this time it is not surprising, his lifelong friend Benjamin Britten had died six years before in 1976 and his own yet unseen onset of Alzheimer's desease which finally, was to be diagnosed in 1985 and which as a result effectively forced him to give up composing.

During these twighlight years of Berkeley's career, there were to be a number of commissioned works some of which were never completed due to the onset of his illness. One such work was his opera, "Faldon park", which was commissioned by the English National Opera Company in 1979. Unfortunately, Berkeley was not able to complete it due to the disruptions brought on by his worsening health. Some of the works which he was able to complete were piece's like, "Sonata for Flute and Piano" op. 97, in 1978, which was premiered by the flautist, James Galway. A song composition in 1982, which was to be one of his last was entitled, "Sonnet for high voice and piano" op. 102, with a lyrical text by the French poet Louise Labe. This was followed in 1985, by his very last work, a short Carol entitled "In wintertime" for S/ A/ T/ B and organ, which he wrote for King's College Choir, Cambridge.

It is clear that throughout Berkeley's career, besides Mozart, Bach and particularly the pianistic qualities of Chopin, the French school of Faure and Ravel were a tremendous source of influence on him. All these influences are clearly encapsulated and reflected in the "Mazurka" op.101/2, It's in G major and 3/4 metre, has a simple harmonic progression throughout and is less than two minutes long. It's expressiveness and graceful economy fully endorses the maxim that.....less is more!


MP3→ Mazurka

Kumiko Ida / Brian O'Hara (text) ~ Jan~2007