I don't know why but I am really into Chopin Waltzes right now! What are your favorites? Can you recommend any non-chopin waltzes that I might like?

My fav, such a classical feel and clean sound : 69 no 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T01wf1me0mM&feature=relmfu

Next fav, the main theme is with sorrow but the middle sections are so cheery! (anyone catch the similarity to those two measures in C# minor no. 20 middle section?) : 69 no 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T01wf1me0mM&feature=relmfu

Side thought: After listening to these, I keep wondering why Op 9 no 2 isn't seen more as a waltz?... It has that repeating left hand pattern. Can anyone chime in on this?

Brahms wrote 16 waltzes, op 39. They're quite unusual for waltzes, one of them is even in counterpoint, but they're very enjoyable.

The name Strauss rings a bell, too.

The nocturne Op. 9, no. 2 is not a waltz because it isn't written in three-four time; it's in twelve-eight. There are four accents in each bar: strong-da-da, weak-da-da, medium-da-da, weak-da-da. It's as close to a waltz as Chuck Berry's No Particular Place To Go.

I really like Chopin Waltzes also and the first one you mentioned is one of my favorites ( although the performance you linked to did not really excite me ). I actually prefer to listen to others playing Chopin rather than learning the pieces myself because in order to learn the pieces I would have to start by playing them slowly and at a slow tempo they just seem fell incredibly sad.

No one else is like Chopin so it's hard to suggest alternatives but here is one link you can try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxDrqdf-U...29C58C3963B286D

My favourite Chopin Waltz for the moment is the A minor posthumous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smqj_z04i4A


It is really not easy for me - and I expect it will take a while before I have it presentable for performance, but I just love it (and it sounds lovely whether you play it quickly or slowly!)

Well, you picked two of my favorite Chopin Waltzes. I played the Waltz in B Minor (69-1) in the last recital and I am still working on polishing it. Some people play this very fast, and other's play it slower. I think is "sings" best at a moderate tempo. I guess everyone's ear is different.

I am also working on The Waltz in C# minor right now. This one is a little more challenging, but equally beautiful. Again, I think some people rush the "B" section too much. It is such a beautiful transition melody.

I think the challenge with Chopin's Nocturne 9-2 is to not sound like a waltz. With 12/8 time, there are four beats per measure and the right hand dictates the rhythm. When I first played it for my teacher her comment was "too waltz-y, sing the right hand". The progressions in the left hand need to be light and not over accented. I like the suggestion above about how to accent the left hand. I love this nocturne, and it is a lot of fun to play!

69 1 is my favorite. So many are great, though, it's hard to pick one favorite. I wonder if I'll ever be able to play one...

I just received my order for a book containing Chopin's easier pieces and this was among the first I encountered. Although it's above my level, I think I might try learn it too as it sounds so nice.

Have you heard this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKzwWK12mZE

Raptor, it is above my level too, but I'm getting there. Just be very patient with yourself and be ok with playing it slowly to start with. I figure that when I visit my family this summer I'll "wow" them with a slowwwwwwwww version (but as they don't know the piece they'll be suitably impressed )... and I hope that as time passes I'll get it up to a peppier tempo.
There are a lot of other Chopin pieces I'd like to work on, but I know I'm not ready for them.

Which book did you get?

Cheryl and Raptor, I am 100% certain that you are perfectly capable of playing the a minor piece or Op 69. Someone mentioned c# minor, now that's a bit harder. I love Chopin waltz, nocturne, sonata, ballade, mazurka, prelude, etude .... just about everything he wrote. He's such a special composer. I get totally affected by his music - I mean, emotionally - his music takes me to a different world. He's a God's gift to humanity.

Farm Girl - I love your encouragement!

I too am convinced I can play the Aminor (and I convinced my teacher too ) As for the other work - did you mean 69 N1 or 69 N2?

I think perhaps you meant the Bm (N2) - I love that one too and having started on the Am, I find it less intimidating, though I recognize that it too would (will ! ) be a long-term project!

Cheryl
I love the version you posted...beautiful. Back to the waltz it is. I'm noticing new details in this time around...need to work on smoother pedaling. I tend to use too much pedal on Chopin and make it blurred when it should not be.

Interesting, because the Bm waltz is (IMHO) notably harder than the Am. Perhaps the first section is similar in difficulty, but the second (and definitely the trio) are quite a bit harder. Though, there are two versions and the one in the Alfred book is slightly easier than the other edition which I learned.

The Waltzes are amongst my favorite Chopin works! My favorites are probably Op.64 No.2 in C sharp minor, Grande Valse Brilliante in E flat and the Posthumous one in B minor (Op.69?). I love them because though they're not "easy" so-to-speak, they lie so beautifully under the fingers and are so nice to play casually. Listeners love them as well.

I also adore this Posthumous one in F minor:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1WwyKXwIN0

Many people aren't familiar with this one.

Andy, I didn't mean it would be easier, just less intimidating Somehow getting through this first Waltz, which has already moved my skills up notches in weeks has made a lot of material seem more approachable - still very challenging -but not scary, if you see what I mean?

Now I have to go and listen to the links that have been posted so far today - so much great music to check out!

Glad you like it WiseBuff - that performer has several pieces up on youtube and tends to play them just a bit more slowly than most other versions I've found.

I've been wanting to learn the posthumous waltz in A minor for a while:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZJt-oWDD7U

Unfortunately, I've been too busy lately to dedicate enough time to the piano. I have worked a bit on the jumps in the left hand, since I still don't have a good enough sense of the piano to manage those smoothly without looking. I think I'll learn a lot from this piece: I'm looking forward to working more on it!

Chatnoir - the version you posted, played by Anievas, is charming - very fast, but charming (the flowers are pretty too).

Thurisaz - Ashkenazy's version is one of the first I heard - and he plays it very quickly too - it is beautiful played at an upbeat tempo.

I am glad (for my sake) that it sounds pretty when played slowly too!

Samuel1993 - the Fm waltz is lovely - but significantly more difficult! I don't think I can even think about aspiring to that one for a while!

Waltz in A minor posthumous: I'm going to put this on my fun to learn pieces to do after I do my exam in a couple of weeks. I am absolutely fascinated with this piece and hope I can make it sound as magical as when I hear others play it. I believe it is within my reach but I will have to work hard at it to make it sound nice. A very good challenge with a beautiful piece of music.

Like you, I actually prefer it played slowly!!!!

The book I have is called: "Easier piano pieces No.39 Chopin An Introductory Album" by ABRSM publishing.

I showed the piece to my teacher and she picked up a few things for me to look out for, one was to use the correct fingering otherwise I'd run out of fingers and the other was how to break it apart to practice and learn it.

Thanks for the advice on playing it. It certainly does still sound nice at a slow tempo so hopefully that will keep me satisfied until it's up to a faster tempo.

Thanks for the name of the book - I see it is easily available to me on Amazon ...time for a little present to my self methinks Mind you many of the pieces are available for free at

free-scores.com

I downloaded the Waltz69 N2 and Prelude Op 28N4 1 page,very slow...) and showed them to my teacher - she said she saw no reason for me to wait to start trying them out (not really studying them, but to start looking them over and getting a feel for them).


Did I mention I'm in a very good mood today?

I meant c# minor as I wrote. I think it was op 64. Cannot really verify the # now but it's a good one

The book I have (probably a similar selection) is Chopin: An Introduction to his Piano Works (Book & CD)

Andy,
You and I have the same book. I like the CD that came along with it. I especially like the tempo of the A minor posthumous waltz on that recording.

I was looking around for a book yesterday after reading this thread and found the one Andy linked to. I'm glad to see it endorsed here. Though... I have alot of Chopin recordings so maybe free downloads are the way to go... (I'm not ready for Chopin yet, but I keep a long wish list at Amazon)

FarmGirl, I had a listen to the Cminor (c sharp minor 64 n2) ...it is really pretty but I think I have to wait on that for a while indeed!

Glasslove - I remember you telling me about your Chopin book too - nice to see that Andy is enjoying it too.

We have quite a new little group of Chopin lovers growing here, don't we?

Absolutely! Lots of Chopin Lovers here! I am working on the Waltz in C# Minor and now I want to play the A minor waltz too. I am also working on the Nocturne in Eb Major (9 2), and relearning Nocturne in E minor (72 1). I absolutely love that one (72 1), but I never played it well in the past. Maybe this time around!

JimF just told me about the Prelude in B minor (Op 28 No. 6) ...... If you look at the music it is intimidating, but when you listen to it and hear how slow it is.... you feel you just might be able to do it.

I found another good site for downloading Chopin:

http://chopinfiles.com

There are 2 waltzes in A minor. I believe most of us are talking about the Posthumous one which (my research shows ) is refered to as Waltz No.19 in A minor, or Op.posth.P2 No.11 (BI 150)

But the other is Waltz in A Minor, Op. 34, No. 2
Here is a little performance by Horowitz -he makes it sound very easy!

SwissMs, Nocturne in Eb Major (9 2) is absolutely beautiful. I I love c# minor waltz too. I played it 3 or 4 years ago. That was one of the first pieces I learned with my current teacher. It's beautiful but not easy at all (LOL). I was sight reading Chopin's waltz after I found out that Cheryl is doing a minor. I have never played them before but I was able to play op 69 #1 and 2 with slow speed. But not the c# minor even though i studied it before, I will have to make effort to bring it back.

By the way, fellow Chopin lovers, I decided to create a little Chopin repertoire. Everyone loves his music. It will be nice to play some of his stuff whenever I have people over. If you are starting out with your Chopin pieces, it's a really good idea to keep them alive. I was looking at my books to see what I played before. I got quite a bit. A nocturne Op 72 - 1 (e minor p.h) from year ago when I briefly came back to piano in college. I am self studying the Op 9-2 nocturne. Besides the c# minor one, 2 waltz and 1 mazurka from my college days as well. a minor waltz and raindrop prelude from childhood. I know a couple of pieces are tough to sight read. See what I mean. I just tried Op 24 #1 Mazurka.. I could somehow play it with extremely slow speed. I have some hope. It's coming back and actually, my touch got a lot better now. Phew! I remember I used to struggle to get the rhythm and keep the left hand chord together and quieter. So I guess, it's my achievement of the day too.