Frédéric Chopin: Grande Valse Brillante In E-Flat Op. 18: Piano Solo

Chopin’s waltzes were contrary to, say, those by Schubert no longer conceived for dancing or for the ballroom. These pieces assumed the form and function of idealized concert waltzes, which Chopin enjoyed performing in the elegant and exclusive art-loving salons of Paris. A particularly eloquent example is the “Grande Valse brillante” op. 18 which, with its multiplicity of charming melodic ideas and moods now gently rocking, now overwhelming, now again triumphantly jubilant became one of Chopin’s most popular waltzes. The medium level of difficulty allows even less proficient pianists to become familiar with the “brilliant” side of Chopin through this waltz.