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[Masterpieces of the Waltz] A comprehensive introduction to classic works written for the piano!
The waltz: a steady dance in triple meter.
Among classical works, there are countless waltzes written for solo piano, solo violin, and orchestra.
In this article, we’re highlighting waltzes composed specifically for solo piano!
Focusing on pieces written from the 19th century onward—the so-called “century of the waltz”—we’ll introduce a wide range, from standard repertoire to hidden gems.
Even within the framework of 3/4 time, the character and atmosphere vary widely.
Please enjoy listening as you savor the unique charm of each waltz.
Masterpieces of the Waltz: A Grand Introduction to Classical Works Written for Piano (Nos. 1–10)
Waltz in E-flat major, Op. 18 “Grande valse brillante”Frederic Chopin
It is one of the most well-known waltzes composed by Frédéric Chopin, the Polish composer hailed as the “poet of the piano.” When Chopin came to Vienna from Warsaw, the waltz was in vogue there.
This piece was written after his visit to Vienna and is considered the work most influenced by the Viennese waltz.
It features a characteristically light, waltz-like rhythm and a brilliant melody, making it a very approachable piece.
Scherzo-ValseEmmanuel Chabrier
Emmanuel Chabrier is one of the leading French composers of the 19th century.
Although he spent most of his life as a civil servant, he published operas and orchestral works and established a distinctive musical style.
The piano piece “Scherzo-Valse,” included in the collection Pièces pittoresques, is brimming with Chabrier’s characteristic chic atmosphere and humor.
The combination of the leaping rhythms typical of a scherzo and the waltz’s distinctive triple meter creates unpredictable developments that delight listeners.
If you are going to take on this technically demanding piece, it is important not only to focus on the details but also to grasp Chabrier’s intentions.
It can be called a masterpiece with a mysterious charm, rich in a variety of expressions.
Waltz No. 9 in A-flat major, Op. 69 No. 1 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin’s Waltz No.
9 in A-flat major, Op.
69, No.
1 “Farewell,” is a masterpiece imbued with feelings for a former lover.
Composed in 1835 as Chopin was leaving Dresden, it was published posthumously in 1853 by his friend Julian Fontana.
The piece begins lento and adopts a rondo form, featuring a poignant melody and the distinctive rhythm of the mazurka, evoking Polish folk color.
Interweaving joyful memories with present loneliness, it is a work that allows listeners to experience a wide range of emotions.
A noble and sentimental waltzMaurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel was a French composer of Swiss-Basque descent.
A leading figure of Impressionism, his music is marked by artisanal precision and formal perfection.
Composed in 1911 as a suite for piano, Valses nobles et sentimentales was named as an homage to Schubert’s Valses nobles and Valses sentimentales.
Consisting of eight waltzes and an epilogue, the work is distinguished by sonorities that depart from traditional tonality.
In particular, the fifth waltz expresses deep inner emotions through delicate chromatic shifts, and Ravel himself pointed to the seventh waltz as a distinctive number.
Freely moving between atonality and tonality while displaying a wide range of musical expression, this work can be seen as emblematic of Ravel’s musical explorations.
Sentimental Waltz, D 779 Op. 50 No. 13Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert’s Sentimental Waltz, D 779, Op.
50 No.
13, is a piano piece whose relaxed tempo and graceful melody create a pleasant impression.
Published in 1825, it is said to have been regarded as one of Schubert’s popular works since its composition in 1823.
The charm of this piece lies in how, while grounded in the waltz’s fundamental triple meter, the performer can freely shape tempo and nuance to follow the contours of the melody and the flow of phrases.
By attending to the resonance of the accompaniment’s harmonies and balancing the right and left hands, you can fully savor the atmosphere of refined, elegant salon music.
Six Pieces, Op. 51: No. 6, “Valse Sentimentale”Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer known as a master of ballet music.
The sixth piece, “Valse Sentimentale,” from his Six Pieces, Op.
51, composed in 1882, is characterized by its poignant melody in F minor.
True to its title, it alternates between light, waltz-like phrases and melodies filled with melancholy, evoking an image of the performer enacting a range of emotions.
It is also popular as a piano recital piece and is highly regarded by fans who savor classical music.
Waltz No. 15, Op. 39-15Johannes Brahms
This is the 15th piece from the 16 Waltzes, Op.
39, originally written for piano four hands and later arranged for solo piano.
The work was dedicated to the aesthetician and music critic Eduard Hanslick, who reportedly was surprised that Brahms—a champion of absolute music—had composed waltzes, which were considered entertainment music at the time.
Brahms, impressed by the popular waltzes of Johann Strauss then in vogue, composed this set.
Rather than an optimistic, merry waltz, the piece reflects Brahms’s temperament with a certain solemn and weighty character.
Little WaltzGiacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini was a master of Italian opera who was active from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
He produced one masterpiece after another—La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly—that continue to be performed around the world to this day.
In 1894, he released a short piano piece called Little Waltz.
Opera lovers will recognize it as the melody of the aria sung by Musetta in La Bohème.
In fact, Musetta’s aria originated from this Little Waltz! It’s said that Puccini got the idea while fishing and rocking in a boat on a lake, and he later transformed it into an aria that makes a powerful impact within the opera.
Salon Pieces Op. 10 No. 2 “Waltz”Sergei Rachmaninov
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano collection Morceaux de salon, Op.
10, composed in his early twenties, includes the second piece, Waltz—a work that combines approachability and brilliance characteristic of his early style.
Its elegant melody, carried by a sprightly triple meter, evokes the atmosphere of a salon ball.
At the same time, the chromatic harmonic progressions that appear throughout impart a depth uniquely Rachmaninoff’s.
Compact yet distinguished, the work’s graceful melody and refined harmonies are woven together with poise, foreshadowing the masterpieces of his later years.
It is a gem that allows one to savor the allure of richly expressive piano music with ease.
Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin’s signature work Waltz No.
6 in D-flat major, Op.
64-1 is affectionately known as the “Minute Waltz.” Composed between 1846 and 1848, it is said to be an improvisatory piece created at the request of his lover, George Sand.
Its light, buoyant melody, which paints in sound the innocent image of a little dog, enjoys wide popularity among learners of the piano, from children to adults.
The key to this piece lies in rhythm and technique: with careful practice and precise fingering, you should be able to convey the delightful image of a puppy scampering about.