Waltz in A minor (Chopin)

Waltz in A minor, B. 150, KK IVb/11, P. 2/11, often designated as No. 19, is a waltz for solo piano composed by Frédéric Chopin. The waltz was written sometime between 1843 and 1848, but was not published until 1955, over 100 years later.

Analysis

The mood of the piece is unclear, showing great sadness at times but also hinting at happiness and hope. The first theme of the piece uses a simple but effective melody, conveying a sad portrait, with decorative ornaments used throughout. The second theme is more interesting and lively, although it still has a certain sadness. About halfway through the piece, there is a modulation into A major, featuring a happy and joyful melody. The piece concludes with the main theme, followed by a short coda.

With a tempo marking of Allegretto, the piece is set out in an A–B–A–C–A form, with a short coda. The A-section is the main melancholic A minor theme, which is based around a simple waltz accompaniment in the left hand, with a solemn quaver melody played in the right. The B-section is based around E major, which is highly decorated with mordents, and large sweeping arpeggio's. There is then a brief return to the A-theme, which unexpectedly modulates to B major. The C-theme abruptly modulates to A major (the parallel major of A minor). This theme is very similar to the B-section, the left hand continues with the waltz accompaniment whilst the right hand plays a highly decorated melody. There is another brief return to the A-theme, before a short coda which concludes the piece with an authentic cadence in A minor. The waltz is 56 bars long and a performance takes about two minutes.

External links

• Score
• Free scores by Waltz in A minor, B. 150 at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• Waltz in A minor (posth.) on YouTube, played by Shani Diluka