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.
Year: 1847
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
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:
Pieces played too fast by transitional
Is it just me, or are the Minute Waltz and the Appassionata 3rd movement played at an inhuman speed that they don't need to be played at? I even checked with the metronome based on the tempo markings and...
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 whole piece, but I'm still far from playing it without mistakes or...
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. I did take guitar lessons from ages 5-10, which may help somewhat but...
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 think the common way is to use the movement of the wrist...
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's k. 331 Andante grazioso. At the moment I'm learning...
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 i say that, is it correct...?) I never really learnt about...
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 reasons. I just finished Chopin waltz op. 64 no.1, Bach Sinfonia...
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 syllabus). Advice on how to start playing it faster please? Or...
Hamelin Transcription : Minute Waltz by abel2
This is absolutely crazy....
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've been searching it for a while now! The desciption...
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...
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), and I can play the first and third part (the faster ones) but when I...
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 refer to the interval of 60 seconds but rather means...
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 be played in this piece. In particular, the Bar 50 trill on C...
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 the right hand anyone have any good ideas for some fingerings (yes...
Chopin - Minute Waltz - Minimum acceptable tempo ? by Drooxy
All is in the topic ! Any suggestion ? Cheers,
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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.