Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 69, No. 1, is a waltz
composed by Frédéric Chopin. It is also called The
Farewell Waltz or Valse de l'adieu.
The waltz was originally written as a farewell piece to
Maria Wodzińska, to whom Chopin was once engaged.
This autographed copy Pour Mlle Marie, given to her in
Dresden, Germany, in September 1835, is now in the
National Library (Biblioteka Narodowa) of Poland in
Warsaw. Another autographed version of the piece can be
found at the Conservatoire ...(+)
Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 69, No. 1, is a waltz
composed by Frédéric Chopin. It is also called The
Farewell Waltz or Valse de l'adieu.
The waltz was originally written as a farewell piece to
Maria Wodzińska, to whom Chopin was once engaged.
This autographed copy Pour Mlle Marie, given to her in
Dresden, Germany, in September 1835, is now in the
National Library (Biblioteka Narodowa) of Poland in
Warsaw. Another autographed version of the piece can be
found at the Conservatoire de Paris, but is considered
to be a less refined version. A third is presented as
the posthumous edition of Julian Fontana, but has not
been substantiated by any known autograph.
The waltz is in A-flat major, with a time signature of
3/4. The tempo is marked at tempo di valse, or a waltz
tempo. The beginning theme, marked con espressione, is
melancholic and nostalgic, and reaches a small high
point with a fast flourish. The second part is marked
sempre delicatissimo, or con anima in other versions.
It is somewhat more cheerful that the previous theme,
but soon gives way to the same first theme. After a
second rendition of the first theme is a third theme,
marked as dolce, the most playful theme. It leads to
another theme with a series of ascending double-stops.
This fourth theme is marked poco a poco crescendo, with
other editions adding ed appassionato. This leads back
to the third, playful theme, and returns back to the
beginning with a da capo al fin.
Although originally composed for Piano, this piece has
been adapted to Concert (Pedal) Harp
