Chopin “Minute Waltz” Op. 64, No. 1

Frédéric Chopin’s Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1, commonly known as the “Minute Waltz,” was actually named Valse du petit chien -- “Waltz of the Little Dog.” He dedicated the piece to one of his former students, a Polish countess named Delfina Potocka, and he maintained a close friendship with her until his death in 1849.

Get the music: Urtext Edition

Chopin wrote the “Minute Waltz” in 1847 alongside his Waltz in C-Sharp Minor (both of these waltzes are part of opus 64). You may note that the second waltz is in the enharmonic parallel minor key of the first.

The Structure of Chopin’s Waltz in D-flat Major

As with most waltz compositions for piano, this piece was written in ABA, or “ternary,” form. The structure states the main theme, departs to a secondary section, then concludes with another complete statement of the main theme.

The waltz, of course, is in ¾ time, and the A theme features groups of 6 eighth notes (duples) while the B theme sits atop a triplet pattern.

Why Is It Called the “Minute Waltz”?

In this case, the “Minute Waltz” is derived from the word “miniature” rather than the unit of time. As a result, Chopin did not expect pianists to play through the piece in 60 literal seconds. In fact, Valentina Lisitsa plays it in 1:48, Lang Lang plays it in about 1:37, and Evgeny Kissin’s performances last closer to two minutes.

Some pianists do attempt the Waltz in 60 seconds, but this is more of an athletic endeavor rather than a musical one.

What Level is Chopin Waltz Op. 64 No. 1?

This piece is considered to be late intermediate or early advanced (probably level 6-7), and it serves as a valuable piece of repertoire for polishing both scale technique and pedaling. Students must learn to shape runs melodically, play scale passages evenly, and balance the melody in the right hand with the waltz chord pattern in the left hand.

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