AP+2013+The+Varsouviana+Polka

Varsouviana Polka Cultural By Kelsey Thomas The varsouviana polka, also known as the varsovienne – is a kind of Polish dance. The varsouviana is “in 3/4 time with a moderate tempo; the varsovienne originated in the 1850's and combined elements of the mazurka and the waltz” (Music Dictionary 1). The dance became popular in 19th century America (Module 24). The music, as well as the steps, is jovial in sound and tempo. A connection exists “between the polka and Blanche’s state of mind and emotion” (University of Bayreuth 7). In comparison to the setting of the play, the cheery music – sometimes describes as ‘merry-go--music’ – sounds almost discordant. The unusual style makes the music stand out in each case it is used. In this way, it helps to establish connections between certain scenes.

"FOLK DANCE, FOREIGN AND ETHNIC DANCES." //MODULE 24//. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013. "Symbolic Devices in Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire." //Symbolic Devices in Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire//. University of Bayreuth, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013. "The Celebrated Varsovienne." Prints Encore Editions, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. "Varsovienne." //Dictionary.com//. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013. "Varsovienne." //Varsovienne//. Music Dictionary, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
 * Works Cited**

Alex Frank Aim In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams uses references to the Varsouvian Polka to set the mood of the main character’s life. As Chloe Logan, a writer for Yahoo’s “Voices” series explains, “ Though a polka is jolly music, mostly, the busy and quick notes can evoke an anxious feeling, which is good overshadowing both for Allen's suicide and for Blanche's mental state when she hears it in her head” (Logan). For those readers who are familiar with the music present in the play, it can become one of the most powerful tools to engender sympathy with the characters. Upon hearing the polka, the reader begins to understand the frenetic, chaotic world that Blanche’s life has become since her husband’s death. A quick pace like the one in the Varsouviana Polka requires intense concentration to follow, leaving little room for deeper thought. This becomes an excellent metaphor for the method by which Blanche chooses to escape her horrifying reality: constant motion. Blanche must remain in constant, frenetic motion to avoid the pain of her past. Thus she plunges blindly toward a greater downfall, only in an attempt to escape what she has already suffered.

Works Cited:

Logan, Chloe. "The Significance of the Music in "A Streetcar Named Desire"" //Yahoo! Contributor Network//. Yahoo, 8 Nov. 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

Historical Austin Hammonds



The Varsovienne (also called the varsoviana or varsouvienne) is a Polish formal dance that originated in 1850s Warsaw and move from there to Eastern Europe and the American South. The dance takes place in ¾ time and is a slow, graceful one. The varsovienne is built of elements taken from polkas, waltzes, and mazurkas (Varsovienne). The history of Eastern European literature makes use of mazurka like dances, which would include the varsovienne, to express certain emotional viewpoints of the authors. Leo Tolstoy’s //War and Peace// uses mazurkas to express the youthfulness of Count Rostov as well as the pride of Denisov and hasty love between Natasha and Boris (Tolstoy). Several other novels make use of this, and so the Varsovienne becomes a piece used to express tense or strong emotions that characters cannot express through words, only through movement.

Sources:

"Varsovienne | Define Varsovienne at Dictionary.com" .//Dictionary.com - Free Online English Dictionary//. Web. 3 Apr. 2013

Tolstoy, Leo. //War and Peace//. Garden City, N.Y.: Literary Guild of America, 1949. Print.