Chopin - Polonaises, Op. 40

      The twin Op. 40 Polonaises (the first of which is nicknamed Military) were composed by Chopin in 1838. Rubinstein remarked that the first, in the key of A, is the symbol of Polish glory, whilst the second, in Cm, is the symbol of Polish tragedy. During the September 1939 German invasion of Poland at the outset of World War II, Polskie Radio broadcast the first one daily as nationalistic protest, and to rally the Polish people.