[Classics] Famous waltzes: recommended popular pieces

Wedding Waltzsugiyama kouichi

Symphonic Suite “Dragon Quest V” The Bride of Heaven: “Wedding Waltz” Dragon Quest V performance by BRASS EXCEED TOKYO

Koichi Sugiyama, a melody maker Japan is proud of.

Among the pieces he composed for the RPG Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, this work has remained especially beloved as an exquisitely graceful waltz.

In the game, it colors the marriage scene—a major life choice—stirring the hearts of many players.

The melody was originally written for the musical Cinderella, which gives it a narrative, romantic resonance that’s deeply appealing.

It’s also very popular as BGM for real weddings and receptions, so why not choose it to celebrate a joyous new beginning?

Waltz from “Masquerade”Aram Khachaturian

Khachaturian: Suite “Masquerade” – No. 1, Waltz

It is a composition by Aram Khachaturian.

Khachaturian is known for his bold and intense style, and he also composed the “Sabre Dance” used in the ballet Gayane.

This piece is one of the numbers from the incidental music for Masquerade, which premiered in 1941.

It was later arranged by Khachaturian himself into a suite for orchestra, and today it is familiar to Japanese audiences not only through orchestral concerts but also because many figure skaters—including Nobunari Oda and Mao Asada—have used it in their programs.

Roses of the TropicsJohann Strauss II

Strauss “Roses from the South” | Waltzes and Polkas | Full Orchestra Performance [Conducted by Hiroshi Yoshida] Bologna Opera House Philharmonic

A masterpiece by Johann Strauss II, known as the “Waltz King,” where elegance and pathos coexist.

Reworked from songs in his own operetta The Queen’s Lace Handkerchief, it is a concert waltz first performed in November 1880.

The “southern” in the title symbolizes Italy, with which Austria enjoyed friendly relations at the time, and it is famously said to have been dedicated to King Umberto I of Italy.

From the melancholic timbre of the introduction, the piece gradually gathers heat and unfolds toward a dazzling climax—truly breathtaking.

Give it a listen when you want to forget the everyday and bask in elegance, or when you wish to create an atmosphere of refined grace.

Waltz for the MoonUematsu Nobuo

[Video Soundtrack] Waltz for the Moon [FINAL FANTASY VIII]

Have you heard the exquisite waltz composed by Nobuo Uematsu, often called the “Beethoven of video game music”? Released in March 1999, the RPG Final Fantasy VIII features this piece in its iconic scene where the protagonists dance.

Set in an elegant triple meter, the melody is romantic yet tinged with a certain wistfulness—that’s what makes it so striking.

It beautifully captures both the exhilaration of a glittering ballroom and the delicate emotions of two people drawn to each other but unsure of the distance between them, and it never fails to set my heart aflame each time I listen.

Why not play it on an evening when you want to bask in elegance, or during a special moment with someone dear?

St-ÉtienneJohann Burgmüller

14. La Styrienne / Burgmüller 25 Études - Burgmüller: 25 No.14 La Styrienne - Classical Piano - CANACANA

Famous as a piano method book, “25 Études.” The present piece, No.

14 in the set, is a charming waltz modeled on folk dances from the Austrian region, composed by Johann Burgmüller, a German-born musician who was active in Paris.

Published in Paris around 1851, this collection remains beloved by piano learners worldwide.

Marked by its lively triple meter and ornamental figures, it combines the brilliance of a ballroom with the simplicity of folk song.

It is also a popular staple for recitals and competitions, making it an ideal piece for piano students to solidify their fundamentals while cultivating musical expression.

Merry-Go-Round of LifeHisaishi Joe

Joe Hisaishi – Merry-Go-Round of Life (from “Howl’s Moving Castle”)

The main theme of Studio Ghibli’s film Howl’s Moving Castle, “Merry-Go-Round of Life.” The wistful waltz composed by Joe Hisaishi beautifully captures the film’s worldview.

The hidden sadness within its splendor evokes the image of Sophie, the protagonist, who, even after being transformed by magic, confronts her inner self and lives with strength.

In fact, there’s an anecdote that in February 2004, Hisaishi performed the piece on the piano in front of director Hayao Miyazaki, and it was approved on the spot.

Its emotionally stirring, dramatic progression is the perfect companion for quiet nights when you want to be alone with your thoughts.

Waltz of the FlowersPeter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

[2.7 million views] Tchaikovsky: “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker | Ballet Music [Full Orchestra Performance] Bologna Opera House Philharmonic [Conducted by Hiroshi Yoshida]

A piece from The Nutcracker, the last ballet score composed by the Russian composer Tchaikovsky.

The Nutcracker is a story set on Christmas Eve.

The nutcracker that the heroine, a girl named Clara, receives is actually a prince under a spell, and the two embark on adventures together—fighting the Mouse King and visiting a fairyland.

This Waltz of the Flowers is a grand ensemble in which the inhabitants dance to welcome the pair when they arrive in the fairyland.

Please enjoy Tchaikovsky’s elegant, mysteriously atmospheric melody, befitting a composer known as a master of melody.

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