Walzer Op. 64 Number 1

The popular nickname “Minute Waltz“ should not mislead the pianist into playing this “string of pearls” too hastily. Another nickname is more effective, that of “Petit Chien” [Puppy] that is frequently used in France. According to George Sand, the D-flat major waltz from op. 64 was inspired by a little dog playing which certainly lends itself delightfully and convincingly to a dynamically charged opening motif with a little dog whirling about (or around the note A flat). Chopin dedicated this first of the Three Waltzes op.64, written in 1847, to his former Parisian piano student and friend of many years the Polish Countess Delfina Potocka, whose musical soirées provided the idealsetting for a musical jewel like this.