F. Chopin - Waltz A-flat major op. 42 - Analysis. Greg Niemczuk's lecture.

[@johnsarkissian5519]

It’s definitely the technically most demanding waltz among the Chopin waltzes. I find it as difficult to play as his Ballade no.1. I also find it to be his most structurally ambitious and solid pieces. No wonder that he decided to publish it under a single opus number. It’s much more than a waltz. It’s a complete symphonic piece.

[@swagwizardpost]

I am very happy to have discovered your channel

[@sofiachen1529]

Thanks for this! I am practing this. This is so called the most difficult waltz among Chopin's pieces.

[@gregniemczuk]

Yes, I totally agree

[@pavlenikacevic4976]

I've listened to this waltz a lot, but I've never understood it until I watched this video. Thanks!

[@gregniemczuk]

That's so great!!!

[@robertmueller2023]

One of my all-time favorites. What's the form? A-B-A-C-A-D-A-E? It seems like he composed it in a fury of non-stop creativity, free form almost fantasia-like.

[@shlecko]

A-B-C-B-D-B-E-B-A-surprise!-B^-D-surprise!-D^-B^^-outro

[@violinousa]

Today ,I 've read this walz for the first time , ...2& 3 is hard....... I love your playing very much all the time. Your explanation & expression of piece encouraging me to practice the piano .thank you very much!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks!

[@johnsarkissian5519]

It is one of Chopin’s most difficult pieces to play, and at same time, one of the most rewarding once you master it!

[@marcusyipianst]

Your Video Help Me a Lot! Thank you Greg!

[@janetsommerfeld5210]

This must be one of my favorite videos of yours! I love love love your sense of humor! Thank you!!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much!!!

[@bludika]

it's such a brilliant waltz

[@minebudiman3586]

I am so thrilled that I found your channel. I have been enjoying many of your videos. Thank you!!!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much!

[@salifscott4664]

I love your videos!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks!

[@soloist1295]

i needed this one, thanks sire

[@carolynk2]

Fantastic! This us one of my most favorite of your videos.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks!

[@gregniemczuk]

Yes, I went a little crazy 🤣🤣

[@carolynk2]

@@gregniemczuk a good crazy!!

[@ewapiano1222]

Good evening!Greetings from Poland Warsaw Chopin's townE

[@ewapiano1222]

BRAVO!!!

[@ewapiano1222]

thank you it was very very interesting

[@FrederikSchulz]

Impressive 👍

[@ewapiano1222]

Fantastic

[@scottweaverphotovideo]

I began learning this exquisite waltz several weeks ago. And I began listening to performances from current pianists. I guess leggiero must also mean to speed up because that's what everyone does, to what I consider an extreme level. To me the tempo should remain fairly consistent throughout except where he writes sostenuto and accelerando. What do you think? Some take the waltz so fast there's no room to even observe the coda accelerando. I prefer Rubenstein's classic approach.

[@valentina6429]

Me too❤

[@johnsarkissian5519]

It’s rather difficult to surpass Rubinstein’s rendition of Chopin’s waltzes. For me, his interpretations of the waltzes are the best reference. That said, there are other eminent pianists whose performances of the waltzes are equally fascinating and satisfying for other aspects of their interpretation. One name that immediately jumps to my mind is Cyprien Katsaris. Among the current pianists, I find our own Greg Niemczuk’s rendition of the waltzes among the most illuminating. Every waltz that I have heard him play, he seems to be playing them exactly with the tempi and nuances that I always imagined should be played. Let’s just say that I’m a 60-year-old professional classical composer and having the piano as my main instrument, I’ve been playing and experimenting with Chopin’s waltzes for at least 48 years.

[@cesardachimp8172]

Hi Greg! I’ve recently become a big fan of this channel. I know Im late (this video is a few years old). I’m wondering if you have any tips on keeping your pinkie finger nice and relaxed through the first theme of the piece since that finger plays the main melody on top of the smaller chromatic notes played with the thumb and index finger. What type of rotation should I use in my hand and wrists for that part and how much said rotation. Thank you very much!

[@gregniemczuk]

Hi Cesar! Thank you for being here. I'm still alive so I can answer you 😊😊😊😊 Yes, definitely, the rotation from the writer of all your hand towards the pinky, so that the pinky is playing deeper and other fingers much more delicate. I'm currently thinking of recording tutorials of all Chopin pieces for piano (how to practice them and overcome difficulties). So I might start doing it soon!

[@cesardachimp8172]

@@gregniemczuk thanks a lot

[@ewapiano1222]

oh I agree

[@ewaswietlicka7569]

Witam 😊🎼🎶🎶🎶

[@ewapiano1222]

Nr 5 is as a song I think

[@Joris1008]

🙏💝

[@ewapiano1222]

See you againBye byeE

[@martintangora7324]

You have completely missed the idea of the structure of this waltz. What you call "waltz Number 2" is actually a _refrain_. I don't know what Polish word would help you get that. A refrain is like the "chorus" of a song, which is repeated after each "stanza." The later waltz in c# minor has a refrain, and in that case it is quite simple how it appears after each of the other tunes -- ARBRAR. Here, obviously, Chopin is making it more interesting by varying the refrain and also varying the tunes that repeat.

[@gregniemczuk]

You are correct. But usually the refrain starts the Rondo. So here it is a bit different. That's why I explain it that way. It's not a typical Rondo. Because the first theme is NOT a refrain. So we have the structure: ABCBDBEBABDB. Is it a Rondo? No it's not.

[@gregniemczuk]

And mind you, I'm making these videos mostly for not musicians, so my analysis is as simple as possible

[@hugofrias9499]

@@gregniemczuk thank you Greg for your deep analysis of Chopin's work. I'm really enjoying it. As amateur pianist, I tried to study this waltz because is full of colour and has beautiful armonies. Somewhere I read that Chopin imitated the Schumann's Carnaval in structure, incorporating different characters who are interacting each other, in this case, within the ballroom.

[@amateursoundz6262]

Get over yourself man