Frédéric Chopin
Waltz 6
in D-flat Major, Op. 64 No. 1

This bright, sparkling waltz is one of Chopin’s most popular pieces. It's been said that he was inspired to compose it when watching a dog chase its tail.

ID: 149
Frédéric Chopin - Waltzes:

Waltz 6
Op. 64 No. 1

Key: D-flat Major
Year: 1847
Level: 7
Period: Early Romantic
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Urtext Download
piano sheet music Piano score: Scanned score Download
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piano music mp3 recording Waltz 6 Op. 64 No. 1 - FREE SAMPLE (mp3 file)

Dog dance..?

It's been said that Chopin was inspired to write this waltz when he was watching a dog chase its tail, and it has a kind of playful, frantic quality as well as many swirling passages that would suggest something along those lines. The passagework fits the hand very well, and many pianists will find that the right-hand notes are much easier to play than it sounds, even to the point where it can be hard for the left to follow with the necessary lightness and transparence. Apart from being a very effective show piece, this is in many ways an ideal exercise in the control of fast passagework and flowing waltz accompaniment.

Background

The Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64 No. 1, is commonly known as "The Minute Waltz," with an emphasis on the second syllable. The implication is therefore that this is a "small" waltz, not a waltz intended to be played in a minute as many people believe. A performance typically lasts between a minute and a half and two minutes. The waltz was written in 1847, only two years before Chopin’s death, and was dedicated to the Countess Delfina Potocka.


Forum posts about this piece:

Having problems with Chopin's Minute Waltz. by rodrigow_
Hello, I'm a self-taught pianist and I've been learning Chopin's Minute Waltz (Op. 64 No. 1) for about a week now. I know the w...

Is it possible to go above grade 8 if I started in year 7? by nook508
Hey all. I'm in year 11 now and am having some doubts about whether I can progress considering I did not play in my development stage. ...

Left hand of Chopin Minute Waltz by nadapez
I want some opinions about different approaches to play left hand chords in Chopin's Minute Waltz Op. 64 Nr. 1. It goes like 270 bpm I...

Preparation for Fantasia in C-minor and k.331 by zengap
Hello all!  :) I need help with suggestions of pieces to learn before learning Bach's Fantasia in c minor bwv 906 and Mozart'...

I need help, advices.... (please 😭😭) I’m very bad at piano (6years) I need tips by clmz.k
(Warning : my English isn’t very good...) Hello, I’ve been playing the piano for 6 years I think. I’ve never practiced regularly (can ...

Choosing a concerto for my high school senior concerto competition (in 2 years) by bmn3
Hi fellow piano lovers, I'm current a sophomore in high school who has recently taken a bigger interest in piano due to several reason...

Chopin minute waltz by sebastian1
Am an adult beginner. Been learning for 5 years.  I have started to learn Chopin minute waltz. (It's on the Trinity grade 8 syllab...

Hamelin Transcription : Minute Waltz by abel2
This is absolutely crazy. www.dropbox.com/sh/vdaviyjojoi7i25/AACaaRJHigvr0B2FLYh5RFHba/Piano%20Transcriptions/Marc%20Andre%20Hamelin/Sheet%2...

What is this piece?? by danielle1990
Does anybody know the name/composer of this piece? youtu.be/uYaPF5wZNEo It starts at 1:00:34 I hope somebody recognize it! Thanks :) I'...

Time for Learning Valse op 64 no 1 by faa2010
How long did or has it taken you to learn Chopin's "Le Petit Chien" (aka Valse op 64 no 1)?...

Help in "Le petit chien" by faa2010
I have played Waltz op. 64 no 1 of Frederic Chopin for a long time, and I still have problems in memorizing the slow part (what an irony), a...

Chopin Minute waltz by hemlock
Hello fellow piano-lovers! I have a little question with respect to Chopin's Minute Waltz. I know that the "minute" does not...

Chopin Op 64 no 1 Trills by adaubre
I have noticed that on a number of performances I have viewed online that there seems to be different interpretations of how trills are to b...

help with Chopin Waltz no1 opus 64 by piano_monkey
Hi i'm a person who needs help with this Waltz desperatly. In the measure 21-36 i just can't play in without making a mistake in t...

Chopin - Minute Waltz - Minimum acceptable tempo ? by Drooxy
All is in the topic ! Any suggestion ? Cheers, Drooxy...

Minute waltz (F. Chopin) - advices... by Drooxy
Hello ! I have started to work on the Minute Waltz from Chopin and I am interested in getting advices, suggestions, warnings, etc. about th...


Member's recordings of piece:

Videos: Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Bizet-Horowitz and Mompou recital by dinoimeri
Hello, Piano Street friends. I did a recital recently (20th of July, 2023) with the following works: [u]Main program[/u] [i]- F. Chopin - ...

Chopin Minute Waltz Op. 64 No. 1 VIDEO by mbleppa
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sQghLpznAw...

My own Chopin “Minute Waltz” contrapuntal paraphrase in double notes by furiouzpianist
Tribute to Godowsky youtu.be/ryxlzfvS1CE An unofficial recording with my phone (I just finished the paraphrase) Somewhat similar idea to th...

Chopin “Minute Waltz” (Friedman tribute) by furiouzpianist
My tribute to my favorite pianist - Ignaz Friedman  8) youtu.be/ooq_D6iiZH8...

Chopin Waltz op. 64 nr1 & nr2 by hakki
Hope you enjoy these performances. Hakki r0QRtG-utKo www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdMqclrl1Sc&feature=share&list=UU-z3gjPNHBYVf0sMsRmn...

Chopin Waltz Op.64 n°1 by stefo78
Ok, I think this one is overplayed (and excuse me for this) but I'm still in a beginner mood, asking for comments and advices to impro...

Le Petit Chien aka Valse op. 64 no. 1 by faa2010
I know it's not perfect, I stopped where I shouldn't and I need to practice more, but I already know the notes by heart, I have be...

Chopin waltz in D-flat major, opus 64 no 1 "Minute Waltz" by iheartpiano
Ok, lol.  I feel terribly nervous about posting this. I'm sure many are sick of the Minute Waltz, but it's always been a dream o...


Members who like this piece have also downloaded:

Piano sheet music and recordings. This piece is from Waltzes by Frédéric Chopin: Waltz Op. 64 No. 1 in D-flat Major (published in 1847) . Level 7, Period: Early Romantic
Waltz Op. 64 No. 1 in D-flat Major, by the early romantic composer Frédéric Chopin. This piano piece was initially published in the year 1847 and is included in Waltzes by Chopin.