The Polonaise, Op. 21, composed in 1897, was completed around the same time as Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 19, and Piano Concerto, Op. 20. Composed during this period, the work's creation coincided with a significant personal event: after his 1894 recital, having received support from Mitrofan Belyayev and completed two European concert tours, he met the young pianist Vera Isakovich, who had received a gold medal at the Moscow Conservatory upon his return. They became engaged in August 1897. Although he composed many dance pieces such as Mazurkas, Waltzes, and Scherzos, this Polonaise was his only work of its kind. This work, structured in ternary form, begins with octave leaps, a polonaise rhythm, and repeated notes. The middle section features a slow and calm first half, reminiscent of a slow movement, followed by a lyrical melody that concludes the latter half. In the recapitulation, the opening theme reappears in the left hand, developing brilliantly before moving towards the conclusion.