Chopin Polonaise Op. 40 No. 1 “Military,” Op. 44, Op. 53 “Heroic,” Op. 26 No. 2 - Hofmann (Score)

Four great historic recordings of Chopin’s polonaises by Josef Hofmann, who my 2nd favourite interpreter of Chopin.

The 2nd fastest recording is Military Polonaise op 40 no 1 which stands at 3:10 which is twice as fast as some modern pianists play it! This is because he plays with no rubato and skips a major section, but in doing so truly captures the military marching depiction of the piece.
It sounds very much like Horowitz likewise in the bass. However, many critisise it for it’s speed and “lack of musicality.”
The Op 44 is sublime as well and very emotional in conveying the tragedy that the piece was nicknamed.
The Heroic polonaise is lively chopinistic and exciting with a stunning middle section with the left hand octaves representing horse gallops as Liszt said. Hofmann’s performance of Op 53 is great, yet 100% prefer Horowitz’s historic 1980s recording as the main theme and ending sounds much more grandoise and powerful plus the middle section is gorceously interpreted with genius placed rubato as Hofmann’s is rather lacking. However, his Op 26 No 2 is the recording I put last because it is the one I value most. The sound is amazing and the voicing and musicality is impeccable. In the loudest parts he sounds like Nyiregyhazi. This will forever be the best performance of this particular piece.

As of now, sources

Recording used polonaise op 53 - 1922 Piano roll
   • Josef Hoffmann Chopins Heroic polonai...  

Recoerding used polonaise op 26 no 2 - live recording Casimir Hall CIM (Curtis Institute Music) April 7 1938
   • Józef Hofmann plays Frédéric Chopin P...  

Recording used polonaise op 44 - 1905 piano roll
   • Josef Hofmann - Chopin Polonaise in F...  

Recoeding used polonaise op 40 no 1 - 1923
   • Hofmann: Chopin Military Polonaise (1...  

Huge thanks to HorowitzScores for providing the sheet music used in 53, 44, and 40.

I do not own the audio.