Chopin Waltz 34.2
Today\u2019s recording brings In the Hands over the one hour mark: since I started this blog at the end of August, it\u2019s brought over 65 minutes of free piano music to the web. Yay!
\n\nThis recording also marks a more dubious milestone: for the first time I\u2019m late with the post (it just turned Wednesday in Minnesota as I type this). I\u2019m not sure anyone cares, or even notices, but I do try to keep myself honest with this Tuesday/Saturday plan.
\n\nChopin can get very complex, virtuosic, or just generally full of big piano sounds. But always, in everything he writes, there\u2019s something pure and elemental at the heart of his music. In this waltz, that elemental core is bare. In a piece like this, it\u2019s hard for me not to look at the score and wonder: It\u2019s so simple! How can there be so much in so few notes? Where is the magic hiding?
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFr\xe9d\xe9ric Chopin\n\n\n\n\u25b6\ufe0f\nWaltz Op 34 No 2 (in A minor)\n\n\nPaul Cantrell, piano\n\n\n\n\n\n\u2b07\ufe0f\nDownload\n\n\n(7:07 / 8.7 M)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
This Chopin waltz is doubly special to me \u2014 not only because it\u2019s a great piece, but also because, like this nocturne from a few entries back, my mom plays it too. (Her glasses have changed since that photo was taken, but not her smile!)