Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 10/22/2015, uploaded on 01/22/2016

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

With the A minor waltz, the second of opus 34, the listener gets the first glimpse of the pieces Chopin would later create within the waltz form. Marked Lento, it unfolds in a marvelously conceived rondo form. Quite remarkably, it opens without introduction, and the first theme, which mournfully winds its way around the dominant is announced in the tenor voice, over a tonic pedal in the bass and the accompanying chords above marked legato. After a literal restatement, this theme gives way to a second theme in A minor of even more pathetic mien, which opens with poignant sighs and closes with a dolefully descending figure against sustained tones in the highest voice. From the depths of this remorse comes the final theme of this opening section, a C major tune (though still heavily influenced by the tonic key) that is perhaps the most waltz-like melody in the piece. As this melody begins to come to a close in A minor, Chopin transitions into the piece’s episode. A beautiful, lyrical melody in the parallel major key sings out, only to be repeated, in a truly inspired moment, in the minor mode with bittersweet colorings of Neapolitan harmonies. Chopin then reprises the opening section, with the exception of the first theme, as well as the remarkable A major/minor episode. Following the episode’s close, the absent first theme returns to dominant the closing section of the waltz. Its first statement gives way to passage of eighth notes that briefly touches upon the key of C major, which in turn leads into twelve stunningly beautiful measures in E major, played pianissimo. A final statement of the A minor first theme then returns to close the piece.  

- Joseph DuBose