[Masterpieces of the Waltz] A comprehensive introduction to classic works written for the piano!

Waltz in E-flat major, Op. 18 “Grande valse brillante”Frederic Chopin

Fuzjko Hemming — The Grand Waltz (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.

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Scherzo-ValseEmmanuel Chabrier

Chabrier / Scherzo-Valse (E. Chabrier / Scherzo-Valse)

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. 15, Op. 39-15Johannes Brahms

Brahms: Waltz No. 15 in A-flat major, Op. 39 No. 15

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.

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A noble and sentimental waltzMaurice Ravel

Krystian Zimerman plays Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (Maurice Ravel) – Complete

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.

Waltz No. 9 in A-flat major, Op. 69 No. 1 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin

Waltz No. 9 “Farewell” (Chopin) – Chopin: Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 69 No. 1 “L’adieu” – pianomaedaful

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.

Sentimental Waltz, D 779 Op. 50 No. 13Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert, Sentimental Waltz Op 50, 13

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.

Salon Pieces Op. 10 No. 2 “Waltz”Sergei Rachmaninov

Sergei Rachmaninoff Morceaux de salon, Op. 10, No.2 Valse in A major

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.