F. Chopin Waltz "Minute" in D flat major: history, content, interesting facts

Frederic Chopin Waltz "Minute" in D-flat major (Des-dur, op. 64 No. 1)

Waltz - this romantic dance from the heart can be called the most popular and beloved without thinking. The liveliness and poetry of this genre, which was developed in the XIX century, has always attracted composers. Well-known waltzes of such outstanding musical masters as Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky are well known. This wonderful dance and Frederic Chopin did not leave without his creative attention. For a brilliant Polish composer, waltz was of particular importance, since it was to him that the maestro inspired all his spiritual secrets with inspiration. Among the Waltzes of Chopin, which are spectacular concert pieces, causing delight and admiration of listeners, there is one charming creation, which has the playful name "Minute". It is one of the most repertoire works of the composer.

The history of the Waltz "Minute" in D-flat major by Frédéric Chopin, the contents of the work and many interesting facts read on our page.

History of the creation of "Waltz Minute"

Who is the first Waltz in D flat major Frederic Chopin No one can say right now for the name Minute, however, it’s credible that this work was written in the estate of the famous writer George Sand in Nohant, and published by the Leipzig music publishing house Breitkopf and Hertel in 1846 -1847.

The biographers of Frederic Chopin argue that during the composer's stay in France, he was firmly entrenched in the reputation of the conqueror of women's hearts. Many charming beauties really admired the talent of a young musician. Women's love inspired Chopin to create magnificent works, but at the same time made her suffer greatly. Acquaintance with some of the fair sex for a long time sunk into the soul of the composer, and the meeting with Amandina Aurora Lucille Dupin, who is better known by her creative pseudonym George Sand, played a key role in his fate.

When they were introduced at a secular party, Frederick was shocked by his refined manners, with not only decent behavior, in a men's suit and a cigar in his mouth. Nevertheless, the extravagant lady not only immediately turned her attention to a young talented composer, but later managed to charm him. No one could have imagined that the fragile Frederic Chopin and the determined George Sand would get close. Yes, they did not legitimize their relationship and this novel brought a lot of heartache to both of them, but nevertheless, even after more than one and a half hundred years, people remember the love story of two great people.

George Sand, at first, very gently treated her lover, who was six years younger than her. She tried her best to improve his health, undermined by tuberculosis. I took care of him during bouts of illness, and in 1838, in order to alleviate the composer's sufferings, he would spend the winter on Spanish Majorca.

In February 1839, returning to France, Aurora and Frederick settled in the Noan Vic estate, owned by George Sand. The estate with its picturesque nature reminded the composer of his beloved motherland and had a beneficial effect on his work. At this time, Chopin created many beautiful works, among which the famous Waltz in D flat major. However, this is only the background to the creation of a remarkable work, and its history is as follows. Aurora lived in the estate of a small dog named Marquis. Puppy's favorite game was spinning, chasing its own tail. Such a funny lesson was fun for everyone, and once Aurora, admiring this scene, told Frederic that if she could, she would have composed music for such a ridiculous dog dance. The writer promised the composer that she would give him a kiss if he fulfilled her desire. And, of course, the in love composer could not fail to fulfill this whim. Chopin never gave his writings a title, but he himself called this work as "The Waltz of the Little Dog."

Interesting Facts

• Frederic Chopin in D flat major waltz dedicated to Countess Delphine Potocki. The beauty, having many talents and receiving a comprehensive education, was a student of the composer, and then a close friend of his. Their tumultuous romance lasted four years. They parted good friends, and when Chopin lay on his deathbed, Delphine sang his favorite songs.
• Frederic Chopin loved his D-flat major waltz, to which he himself gave the name "Waltz of the Little Dog" and constantly included this work in his concert programs.

• Frederic Chopin very painfully experienced a break with George Sand and the last words he said were addressed to her. The composer complained that Aurora did not keep her promise that he would die only in her arms.
• There are two versions of why this work was called "Minute". Some people think that this waltz is so fast in pace that its time for its sound should not exceed a minute. Others suggest that the product is too short, and therefore received such a name.
• A typical waltz takes between one and a half to two minutes. It is simply impossible to reproduce this creation in a minute, since the rate of such execution must correspond to the designation: ♩ = 420, which is equal to the movement of a car traveling at a speed of 90 km / h.
• According to Camil Burnikel, one of the first biographers of Chopin, the composer himself called his D-flat major waltz "The Waltz of the Little Dog." Because of this, the name has turned into a jumbled confusion and now many people think that the superpopular tune, which in common people is called “Dog Waltz”, was also composed by Frederic Chopin.
• Beautiful music in Chopin's D-flat major waltz can not leave anyone indifferent. American director Len O'Kun composed the words to the music of the immortal creation of the great Polish composer, and the resulting composition was performed in 1966 by popular singer and actress Barbra Streisand.
• Chopin's Waltz in D-flat major is used as the main musical theme in the popular BBC radio program "Just a Minute".
• The famous French director Jean Renoir used Frédéric Chopin's D-flat Major Waltz in his film Rules of the Game, which was shot in 1939. Film films are still recognized by film critics as one of the highest achievements of cinema.

Waltz "Minute"

Frederic Chopin's famous Waltz in D-flat major is a sparkling musical miniature full of flying and brilliance. The composition has a three-part form, having a peculiar structure: BUT II:AT:II - WITH - A B. Despite the fact that the piece implies a fast pace of performance, due to the simple presentation of the musical material, it is often used to teach the beginner pianists.

The work, marked by the tempo of molto vivace (very lively), opens with a four-stroke intro that tunes listeners to the playful nature of the miniature.

The first theme of the waltz, underlined by a light waltz accompaniment, begins with the rapid movement of sounds, which is built on the fourfold repetition of the same motive. Then, as if accelerating, the melodic line soars to the sex-sound in the second octave, and then begins to gradually descend. The second theme of the first part initially also resembles a spiral-like movement, but in the future, priority in music is given to the gamma-like movement, which constantly strives up and down.

The middle part, which is marked by a more moderate sostenuto tempo, is a smooth, gentle melody. A calm rhythmic pattern consisting of half and quarter durations brings a bright mood to the music. At the end of the section, the melody is decorated with forchlags and trills: there is an assumption that in this way the composer imitated the sound of a bell that was tied to the collar of a small dog.

The last section of the waltz is based on the musical material of the first part, but without reprisal repetitions. The work ends with a spectacular rapid three-octave gamma-like movement down to the tonic sound.

Waltz "Minute" in D-flat major is a miniature work of genius Frederic Chopin took a worthy place in the world fund of musical literature for piano. Sparkling and flight piece, spectacularly sounding from a concert stage, is included in the repertoire of many performers. However, it is important to note that the availability of the presentation of the musical material of this work also allows novice musicians to come into contact with the outstanding work of the great maestro.