Description
The first of the three waltzes of Op. 64, published in 1847 — the last set of waltzes to appear in Chopin's lifetime. The nickname "Minute Waltz" is widespread in English, but "minute" there means tiny, not sixty seconds; the other common nickname comes from the story that Chopin wrote it after watching George Sand's dog chase its own tail.
In D-flat major and triple time, a continuously turning right-hand figure dominates, and a singing melody settles the music in the middle section. Some 1,370 notes are packed into about a minute and a half across six octaves. The key is full of black notes, which actually lets the hand sit naturally.
The task is keeping that fast rotation light. Forced, the notes jam and nothing spins at all. Keep the fingers close to the keys and the wrist loose. In the middle section switch to song, easing the tempo to draw the contrast. Choosing a tempo that holds to the end does more for the brilliance than playing fast.
Waltzes in elegant triple time, including Chopin's concert waltzes alongside works by a range of other composers.
Browse all songs in Waltzes →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Frederic Chopin was born in Poland and made his career in Paris, remaining unusual among great composers for writing almost exclusively for piano. He poured his longing for his homeland into mazurkas and polonaises, while his ballades and etudes combine poetic melody with harmonic innovation. This site includes the "Revolutionary" and other etudes, Ballades No. 1 and No. 4, nocturnes, and the Preludes, Op. 28.
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