This set of Three Mazurkas, Op. 50, is dedicated to Mr. Leon Szmitkowski.

The first piece, in G major, is marked Vivace. It is a mazur with a 16-bar coda. In the section where it modulates to E minor, one can sense the characteristic rhythmic ambiguity found in Polish folk music.

The second piece, in A-flat major, is marked Allegretto. It is a kujawiak with an 8-bar introduction. The middle section becomes a mazur. It was described by Huneker as a “typical aristocratic mazurka.”

The third piece, in C-sharp minor, is larger in scale but is considered the least mazurka-like among Chopin's mazurkas. This is likely due to the use of contrapuntal techniques characteristic of Chopin's works. Despite employing such techniques, this mazurka begins as a contrapuntal kujawiak, and then all three types of mazurka – oberek, mazur, oberek... – resonate within it. It has a 20-bar coda.

※For explanations of Kujawiak, Mazur, and Oberek, please refer here (Nobuko Sato's series page).