Racing the Clock with Chopin's Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute Waltz"
The Listen Guide
Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1
I'm Fryderyk Chopin, and this is the listen guide to my Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute Waltz". You'll find your way through the waltz's simple there-and-back shape, so you always know whether the quick opening tune, the singing middle or the return is passing by. When you're ready, put yourself to the test : on this site my fellow composers and I also teach you to recognize our pieces as they play.
---
Sit Back, Nothing Here Needs Your Permission
I wrote this waltz for one piano and one pianist, so there's only a single instrument to follow. Listen to the right hand first, because it carries the tune and often ripples along so quickly that it sounds like a running stream. Then let your ear drop to the left hand, which keeps the steady waltz beat of one strong note followed by two lighter ones, like a gentle count in the background. Keep an ear out for the pedal and for the music swelling and fading, because those small waves of loud and soft are what turn a string of fast notes into something that breathes.The Name Was Not My Idea
People call this piece the "Minute Waltz", but I didn't give it that name, and my publisher did. The word was meant to suggest a miniature waltz, a small piece you could hold in your hand, and not a race against the clock. A relaxed performance takes about a minute and a half to two and a half minutes, and to squeeze it into a single minute a pianist would have to play around 420 quarter notes a minute. So if someone proudly tells you they can play it in sixty seconds, you may politely answer that it was never asked of them.Three Slices, One Sandwich
Choosing the form was simple in the end, because I wanted something clear and balanced for such a short piece. It is a simple ternary form, which just means a first section, a contrasting middle, and then the first section again. The outer parts are marked leggero, or light, and the middle is marked sostenuto, which asks the pianist to hold the notes and sing. Let's take the three sections one at a time, and you'll see how neatly they fit together.Section 1: The Opening Spin
The waltz begins in D-flat major at a tempo marked molto vivace, so it feels bright and in motion from the very first notes. The pianist is asked to play leggero, which means the fingers should skim over the keys and never pound them. You'll hear a quick, circling figure that seems to chase itself around, and it never stops long enough to let you settle. The mood is playful and breathless, and it's meant to make you smile before you've had time to wonder what's coming next.Section 2: The Deep Breath
Then the middle section arrives, marked sostenuto, and the whole feeling of the music changes. The busy whirl gives way to a long, warm melody, and the notes are held and shaped so that the tune can really sing. Here the pedal and the gradual rising and falling of the volume matter most, because they give the melody its glow. After the glitter of the opening it feels like stepping out of a bright ballroom into a quiet corner, and I hope you'll enjoy the calm while it lasts.Section 3: The Return, a Little Wiser
The first section comes back, and the quick, light writing from the beginning picks up exactly where the spinning left off. You'll recognize it at once, but after the singing of the middle it sounds fresher, as if you're hearing it with rested ears. The music stays in D-flat major and races toward the finish with all its sparkle intact. That return is the reason this form works so well, because you leave with the playful tune in your head and the memory of the song in the middle still warm.Your Turn at the Keys, Or Rather at the Button
Now I invite you to hear the waltz for yourself, so press play and let the music carry you along. While it plays, you might think back on what we talked about, from the light, fast opening to the singing middle and the cheerful return. Don't worry about catching every detail, because the first listen is for enjoying and the later ones are for noticing. I hope this little journey through my Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute Waltz" gives you as much pleasure as it gave me when I wrote it.---
I hope you enjoyed learning about the listen guide for my Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute Waltz". Now that you've followed it from the lively opening to the singing middle and back again, I think the piece sounds a little different, and perhaps a little warmer, than it did at first. A waltz that lasts only a couple of minutes can still hold more than one listening can take in. There's still plenty left to explore in this waltz, from the other two waltzes that share its set to the many ways other musicians have played with it over the years. Each time you return to it, you may notice a new detail in the way the tune dances along or in the way the middle section slows down to sing. Please click on the links provided here to keep exploring the Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute Waltz", and enjoy every minute of it, however long it takes.