Piano Forum

Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: albertf1 on April 05, 2010, 08:55:04 PM

Title: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: albertf1 on April 05, 2010, 08:55:04 PM

Can someone tell me how to play the ornaments in measures 35, above the C#, and 51 above the E in the Waltz in A minor by Chopin. Thanks for any help.

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: stevebob on April 05, 2010, 09:09:19 PM

There are two known waltzes by Chopin in the key of a minor, and I can't tell whether you're referring to Op. 34 No. 2 or the posthumous one.

Neither of them has an ornament on C♯ in bar 35, but both have an ornament on E in bar 51.  :)

Could you clarify?

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: albertf1 on April 05, 2010, 09:36:17 PM

Posthumous. Thank you.

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: stevebob on April 05, 2010, 10:37:27 PM

Okay, then I'll assume that you're referring to bars 34 (not 35) and 51:

(https://img717.imageshack.us/img717/3066/postaminor.gif)

I'm not sure if your question pertained to the notes or the rhythm, but it might be worth noting that all of the inverted mordents in this piece—whether represented by the zigzag sign or written out in small notes as a double appoggiatura—should be executed in the same fashion, viz. starting on the beat.

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: albertf1 on April 05, 2010, 11:37:15 PM

Another comment. It is not bar 35 but rather 34 in the Piano Streey Urtext.

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: albertf1 on April 06, 2010, 12:15:42 AM

Thanks. You have been a great help.

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: stevebob on April 06, 2010, 12:17:57 AM

You're very welcome.  :)

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: frmacada on August 21, 2010, 04:00:25 PM

I would also like to know how to play the ornaments in bar 4 and 12.
The mp3 file sounds different to the urtext score!

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: stevebob on August 21, 2010, 05:10:35 PM

They should be executed like either of the following:

(https://a.imageshack.us/img844/9061/aminpost.gif)

In what ways does the mp3 you refer to differ?  If you've heard performances in which such ornaments anticipate the beat (rather than being played on the beat), it's a common (though uninformed) practice.

Title: Re: Help-Ornaments in Chopin Waltz in A Minor
Post by: frmacada on August 22, 2010, 10:04:26 AM

Thank you for your comment. When I play these bars,(on the beat) I hear 5 notes. The mp3 file
sounds like 4 notes each time.
It is most likely to be my poor interpretation of the sound and my playing!