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Waltzes: Piano Book

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Waltzes: Piano Book

Waltzes: Piano Book

By Frédéric Chopin / ed. Eduard Mertke

Item: 00-K03331
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Chopin: Waltzes (Ed. Eduard Mertke): Piano Book

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Description
Frédéric Chopin's Waltzes are much different than the earlier Viennese waltzes in that they were not designed for dancing but for concert performance. Chopin started writing waltzes in 1824, when he was fourteen, and continued until the year of his death, 1849. This volume was edited by Ed Mertke and includes performance and historical notes. Contains: Grand Valse Brillante, Op. 18 * Valse Brillante, Op. 34, No. 1 * Valse Brillante, Op. 34, No. 2 * Valse Brillante, Op. 34, No. 3 * Valse, Op. 42 * Valse, Op. 61, No. 1 * Valse, Op. 64, No. 2 * Valse, Op. 64, No. 3 * Valse, Op. 69, No. 1 * Valse, Op. 69, No. 2 * Valse, Op. 70, No. 1 * Valse, Op. 70, No. 2 * Valse, Op. 70, No. 3 * Valse in E Minor (Post.) * Valse in E Major (Post.).

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Edition
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 56
ISBN10: 0-7579-9022-3
ISBN13: 978-0-7579-9022-9
UPC: 029156036824
SKU: 00-K03331

More about this title

About the Composer: Frédéric Chopin

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist whose innovations fundamentally reshaped Romantic-era piano music. He developed the modern concert waltz, transforming the dance form into intimate, sophisticated works for the concert hall rather than the ballroom. His technical demands and emotional depth established new standards for pianistic expression and continue to define the instrument's literature.

Chopin's career spanned nearly three decades, during which he composed across multiple genres while establishing himself as one of the era's most influential pianists. His output, though relatively modest in volume, achieved enormous artistic significance through the combination of poetic sensibility, harmonic innovation, and an unparalleled understanding of keyboard writing. He remains central to any serious pianist's development.

Why we love this

Chopin's waltzes showcase the composer at his most lyrical and structurally assured. Where earlier Viennese waltzes prioritized dance rhythm, these concert waltzes demand pianistic sophistication and musical maturity, making them ideal repertoire for advancing students who are ready to move beyond technical display into genuine interpretation. The collection's chronological span reveals the arc of Chopin's artistic evolution from youthful brilliance to refined mastery.

What to expect

These waltzes balance elegance with intimacy, moving between moments of brilliant passagework and tender lyricism. The music unfolds with the grace of a formal court dance reimagined as a conversation between composer and listener, offering both technical excitement and emotional subtlety.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced pianists seeking substantial concert repertoire and students ready to engage with the Romantic piano canon. This collection serves private studio teachers building recital programs and serious amateurs exploring the depth of Chopin's compositional range.

How to get the most out of it

  • Approach the triple meter with forward momentum rather than excessive rubato; the waltz's character depends on a sense of dance-like propulsion underneath the surface ornamentation.
  • Balance the melody against accompanimental figures so the voice-leading remains clear; Chopin's textures often reward careful pedal work rather than indiscriminate sustaining.
  • Study the editor's historical notes alongside the score to understand the opus numbers and composition dates, which often illuminate the stylistic progression within a single key or form.
  • Practice the passage work separately from the larger structural shapes; Chopin's figurations serve the harmony and phrasing, not the reverse.

How to use it

Program individual waltzes as recital openers, contrasting pieces, or encores, allowing flexibility in concert design. Alternatively, a pianist comfortable with the collection might perform a themed program of multiple Chopin waltzes to demonstrate the range of the genre and Chopin's evolution as a composer.

Skills your students will build

  • Pedal technique and its role in voice transparency within Romantic-era textures
  • Rubato and temporal flexibility within a consistent pulse
  • Ornamentation and embellishment as structural and melodic devices
  • Phrasing and structural shaping in smaller forms
  • Balancing melody with accompaniment across varied textures
  • Interpretation of editorial notes and historical context in performance decision-making

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