Chopin composed this piece from 1831 to 1835. The music begins with a soft, beautiful and fluid melody (the "Andante Spianato"), although there is also sadness in this beauty, as is almost always the case with Chopin's compositions, which to some extent is the result of Chopin's exile from Poland and his nostalgia for his country and family.
And then comes the much more dynamic Polonaise. Polonaise is a type of a national dance of Poland with folk origins, which over the years gained acclaim in Poland but also throughout Europe and Russia. The "Polonaise" part of this piece is much more optimistic, colourful, joyful and playful than the first part, full of ornaments and glittering piano sounds, like swirling around itself.