The information in the headnote might seem contradictory, but the picture clears up in the revelation that the numbering of this early piece came well after the composer's death. In fact, this is the earliest surviving work of Chopin, and in some listings of his works is simply given as his Polonaise in G minor, B. 1. Written when he was just seven, the piece is remarkably well-constructed for the work of a child. What may be of greatest interest here, however, is the serious mood of the piece. It has, in fact, a rather wistful character, and even in some of its most naïve moments, it is less cute than forlorn. Is the mature Chopin's melancholic nature traceable to even his early childhood years?

The piece starts off with a rather dour introduction whose opening chords evoke an image of tolling bells, which are then followed by a fanfare-like passage. The youthful composer next presents a simple but gloomy theme which shows the influence of Mozart. The middle section is brighter, if somewhat stiff and rambling. The main theme returns and is given in much the same way it was earlier heard. The work ends rather abruptly. The appearance of the introductory material five times throughout this four-minute piece is probably its greatest weakness.

Although this is a decidedly minor work in the composer's output, it is of immense value in the study of his complex musical persona.

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