[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.
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Masterpieces of the Waltz: A Complete Introduction to Classical Works Written for Piano! (11–20)
The Skaters’ WaltzÉmile Waldteufel
This is a representative work by the 19th-century French composer Émile Waldteufel, who wrote many waltzes and polkas and is often called the “Waltz King of France.” Commonly known as The Skaters’ Waltz, this piece was inspired by the skating rink in the Bois de Boulogne, a forest park in Paris.
Its elegant melodies glide smoothly like skaters on ice, sleigh bells sound as if snow were gently falling, and the bright, rhythmic character suggests people happily skating while chatting.
It’s a piece that makes you want to go skating just by listening to it.
Album for the Young, Op. 39, No. 8: WaltzPyotr Tchaikovsky
From Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Album for the Young, we present the solo piano piece Waltz.
This piece is included in the lovingly crafted collection that the 19th-century Russian composer dedicated to his then seven-year-old nephew.
Its gentle, clear melody conveys childlike innocence and delicate charm.
Though it may seem challenging, the relaxed 3/4 time actually makes it easy to play, making it a good choice for piano beginners.
Carried by the graceful atmosphere of a waltz, you can experience in sound the innocent and endearing world of childhood.
Romantic Waltz in F minorClaude Debussy
Claude Debussy’s representative work “Romantic Waltz in F minor” is an early piano solo piece composed in 1890.
Brimming with passionate momentum, it creates a fantastical atmosphere through its distinctive use of ornamentation and chords.
At the time, with his thirtieth birthday approaching, Debussy was in a transitional phase: while still following the Romantic tradition, he was gradually shifting toward his own unique musical language.
Throughout the piece, one can enjoy the striking use of waltz rhythms and a light, transparent character—an embodiment of Debussy’s distinctive charm.
Mephisto Waltz No. 1Franz Liszt
A notoriously difficult piece packed with virtuoso techniques characteristic of Franz Liszt.
Mephistopheles plays a waltz on the violin, and the people dance.
Eventually, after spotting a girl named Margarete, Mephistopheles slips away with her into the forest.
The piece vividly depicts scenes such as a nightingale singing in the night sky.
Rather than an elegant waltz, it overflows with an overwhelming energy more akin to wild, ecstatic revelry, allowing one to fully savor the splendor of grand piano virtuosity.
Cinderella and the Prince, Op. 102-1Sergei Prokofiev
“Cinderella and the Prince, Op.
102-1” is one of the pieces from Six Pieces from Cinderella, Op.
102, a collection for piano that draws on the central melody of Sergei Prokofiev’s celebrated ballet Cinderella.
Prokofiev married Lina Codina in 1923 but later divorced, and after returning to his homeland in 1936, he produced numerous masterpieces.
In this work, the love story of Cinderella and the Prince is portrayed through graceful melodies and a delicate, wistful tone.
Its exquisite fusion with a lively triple meter creates a waltz that vividly evokes a dreamlike realm.
Why not lend an ear to the couple’s encounter at the ball and the music’s promise of a blissful married life it seems to illuminate?