[Publius]

When it came to dances, Frederic Chopin preferred to write mazurkas, the dance from his native Poland. He didn’t write all that many waltzes, but the ones he wrote were among his greatest pieces. The first from this set of three from 1838 is one of his grandest.

Chopin: Waltz in A-flat, Op. 34/1

This may be one of the saddest pieces that Fred ever wrote. It’s one of those Chopin pieces I love to play. You don’t need great technique to make it work.

Chopin: Waltz in A minor, Op. 34/2

This is a very tricky piece with the waltz beat in the left hand, but staggered groups of four in the right.

Chopin: Waltz in F, Op. 34/3

The next year, 1839, would be the most amazing year in Chopin’s output, a true miracle year. But that’s for next week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night, Publius, and rest well. Thanks for Chopin this evening. Thanks for helping honor the troops, and thank you for your service to our country.