Chopin’s Waltz in A minor, Op. 64 No. 2 (Original key: C-sharp minor) is far more than a salon piece: it’s a window into his emotional and historical landscape in 1847, just two years before his death. It was composed during Chopin’s final years in Paris. That summer, Paris was politically tense, with rising unrest that would culminate in the 1848 revolution. Chopin, however, remained detached from politics, focusing on music.

He had just ended his long relationship with George Sand, receiving a final letter from her that marked the close of their nine-year bond. This emotional rupture deeply affected him. The waltz was dedicated to Madame Nathaniel de Rothschild, a patron and hostess whose home offered Chopin some refuge from his solitude.

The piece follows an A–B–C–B–A–B form:

• Theme A: Tempo giusto, with a walking pace and chordal texture.
• Theme B: Più mosso, featuring flowing eighth notes
• Theme C: Più lento, a lyrical interlude in A major, offering a moment of calm and introspection, before returning to the more sombre minor key.

Unlike the glittering salon waltzes of Strauss, Chopin’s Op. 64 No. 2 is introspective and poetic. It’s often interpreted as a reflection of nostalgia, longing, and quiet resignation, especially given Chopin’s declining health and emotional isolation at the time.

The piece is technically accessible yet demands nuanced phrasing and rubato to bring out its expressive contrasts.The inner voices and chromatic movement translate beautifully to classical guitar. The challenge lies in preserving the waltz pulse in the accompanying voices while voicing the melody with clarity.

Score: 5 pages

Preface, legend & performance notes: 4 pages

Below is a link to Youtube which will allow you to get an idea of what this piece sounds like in its original setting for voice and piano. (Performed by Valentina Lisitsa)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTSu1jjKpgI&list=RDwTSu1jjKpgI&start_radio=1

Over the coming months, I will be playing short excerpts from all pieces listed in this catalogue on classical guitar myself and post them on my Youtube channel, titled:

Michael De Baker Arrangements for Classical Guitar.

Thanks for tuning in. Wishing you much musical enjoyment and many rewarding hours with our instrument, the classical guitar.

Michael

  Contact. If you’d like to reach out - whether about repertoire, arrangements, or upcoming projects - feel free to email me at mdebakerclassicalguitar@use.startmail.com