Week 1: Choose your waltz and start Dancing!
Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Week 1 of celebrating Schubert's Waltzes!
Below are some collections of waltzes that are quite delightful. Take a look and decide which waltz(es) you want to work on during this challenge! Keep in mind that they can be quite short, so it can be fun to pick several!
Let us know which waltzes you pick in the comments below!
Week 1 Goal:
Choose a waltz or several to work on! Let us know why you selected the particular waltz!
Additional challenge:
Post your sightreading/first play through video!
Popular waltzes to choose from:
-
Thank you for this challenge. For many years my primary keyboard instrument was organ. Now I find I am having trouble with octave passages (which are very rare in organ literature). So I'll begin with a waltz that has a lot of octaves, maybe Op. 77 no. 12.
-
Paul Miller Look out for where you can use 1 and 4 instead of 1 and 5. This gives you a finger pedal action if you want more of a legato feel in the octaves.
-
@Roy IJames-Pike Thanks for the suggestion. I tried this, but my hand is not quite big enough to play the 1-4 octaves without straining, so I'll have to depend on the pedal.
-
-
While listening to Schubert waltzes on a long trip yesterday, I came across this lovely waltz I hadn’t heard before played by Mariam Batsashvili- Schubert’s Kupelwieser Valzer in G Flat Major. Here is my sight reading of the first half of the piece.
It has an interesting back story per IMSLP-
“The Waltz was composed on September 17, 1826 for the wedding of Schubert's friend Leopold Kupelwieser with Johanna von Lutz. The work was not written down at the time, but it remained extant because members of the Kupelwieser family continued playing the piece throughout the years, generation after generation. Finally, on January 4, 1943, Maria Mautner Markhof, née Kupelwieser, played the piece for Richard Strauss, who transcribed it. Strauss' transcription of the work was first published posthumously in 1970.”
-
Vidhya Bashyam What a lovely bit of history and such beautiful playing! I can’t wait to hear the rest of it. You always find the best stuff.
-
Vidhya Bashyam oh, I love the Kupelwieser Waltz, very well played!
-
Vidhya Bashyam Thanks for sharing the back story. I so enjoy your elegance, even when sightreading, Vidhya! Well done.
-
Michelle R Thanks Michelle!
-
Vidhya Bashyam What a little treasure you have found.
An interesting story as well, I wonder if, like folk songs, bits have been tweaked and altered over the years. Thank you Vidhya!
-
-
Thanks for this great idea Dominic. I was hesitating but listening to the performances here hooked me in. I will try my hand at 2 valses sentimentales, the 5 an 7.
-
Thanks Dominic to choose Schubert Waltz pieces for the challenge.
I will start with no. 13~25 from 34 Valses Sentimentales D.779.
What lovely pieces they are, which is a really great release from the big pieces i am working on.
I have also submitted not a super exciting sight reading video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMl9Efo0VFg
BR,
Fingers Lan
-
Fingers Lan Thank you for recording the whole group. I particularly love the first one!
-
Fingers Lan Thanks for sharing! I just love this set of waltzes.
-
Angela Fogg
Thanks, Angela.
This is a very sweet set. Hopefully some day I will learn the entire set.
-
Vidhya Bashyam
Thanks. It is very relaxing while playing them. It's great to join this challenge with you all.
-
-
Hi everyone!
I have read all the waltzes proposed. I chose some Valses Nobles to work on octaves and chords. I hope they are ready by the end of the challenge.Ciao!
-
Second attempt to post my tortured first attempt, that hopefully goes through
:So many lovely waltzes to choose from, but I have to start somewhere, so I chose the Valse sentimentale no.12 and recorded my very first attempt. This waltz sounds very „folksy“ and „homey“ to me, something you would hear from a hand organ player on a square in Munich.
Others might follow, if I manage to get this one up to speed and without slips.
-
Nadja Love this waltz! Nice playing. I agree with you- so many beautiful ones to choose from. Hope you have time for more.
-
Vidhya Bashyam Thank you, I am eyeing some of the valses nobles, but first I have to get this one right.
-
Nadja Super first attempt, Nadja! Hearing all different harmonies is so much easier at "sight-reading" speed.
-
Michelle R Thank you, but I definitely want to improve my sightreading!
-
Nadja I think you are well on the path to success! Thank you for posting!
-
Angela Fogg Thank you for your encouraging words!
-
Nadja You are well on your way!
-
-
https://youtu.be/CebWMYuNZhs?si=-1O3ETrWZp-2nPze
Here’s the first Graceful Waltz, Op 91. Not my first attempt to record it I admit.I’ll try to post some more over the weekend but I’ve made a start! Looking forward to listening to all the new postings as well.
