Waltz in b minor

[rappy]

Sometimes I have the desire for writing something tonal. The last "serious" piece I wrote is a Waltz for piano in b minor, quite long and virtuoso. I began practicing it and then I got a problem with tenosynovitis so that I couldn't practice anymore. The recording I have is thus not perfectly rehearsed yet, missing concinnity and fluency. Also, there are some passages I have reworked (e.g. p. 13) after the recording.

Score: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/walzer.pdf
MP3: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/Walzer.mp3

P.S.: There are some poor cuts in the recording, I hope you don't mind...  0:)

[rappy]

Nobody's interested so far?

[jochanaan]

Oh yeah, I meant to tell you. I listened a while ago. Not bad. Good piano writing, but I didn't really feel "waltz" for most of it. Yet that might be because you hadn't had a chance to get it "under your fingers."

[EigenUser]

This is impressive. I have one suggestion -- not about the music, but about the title:

I agree with jochanaan in that it doesn't sound too waltz-y. However, every now and then, I start to get a waltz-feel (I know Ravel's "La Valse" has been described like this, but this reminds me nothing of "La Valse" other than that description). The idea reminds me much more of Debussy's "Gigues" from his "Images pour Orchestre" -- you know, how you get a few tastes of an Irish jig here and there, but the whole piece is still clearly Debussian. Perhaps if you simply pluralized the title and called it "Waltzes" it would call attention to this. It is an effect that I really like.

In any case, nice job!

[rappy]

Thank you for listening! Of course this is not a waltz one should dance. But in our post-Ravel Times it should be clear that a waltz is Not necessary only um-taa-taa, isn't it?
So Maybe just forget the title of you have problems with the rhythm.

[jochanaan]

Oh, it doesn't have to be danceable all the time. Still, it's nice to feel one's toes tap a little in a piece called "Waltz."  Ravel's La Valse is very good at this; yes, it's as much drama as dance, but the main themes are actually danceable.

[EigenUser]

Thank you for listening! Of course this is not a waltz one should dance. But in our post-Ravel Times it should be clear that a waltz is Not necessary only um-taa-taa, isn't it?
So Maybe just forget the title of you have problems with the rhythm.

True. Regardless of what it is or isn't, it is well-done  . You should consider orchestrating it (haha, I say this as if it's no big job). Have you written for orchestra or chamber ensemble before?

[North Star]

True. Regardless of what it is or isn't, it is well-done  . You should consider orchestrating it (haha, I say this as if it's no big job). Have you written for orchestra or chamber ensemble before?

See Ralph's thread here.