Chopin’s Waltz No. 19 in A minor, Op. Posth., is a poignant miniature that rewards a sensitive player. Its exact date of composition remains debated - some scholars place it in the early 1830s during Chopin’s Warsaw years, while others argue for the late 1840s, near the end of his life. Published posthumously in 1860 under the mistaken attribution to Charlotte de Rothschild, it was only in the mid‑20th century that stylistic and manuscript evidence restored it to Chopin’s catalogue.

Set in A minor, with a brief, luminous shift to A major, the waltz unfolds in a rondo‑like pattern (A–B–A′–C–A″) capped by a short coda. The opening theme is melancholic and deceptively simple, carrying a quiet sadness that feels especially resonant on the guitar. The contrasting middle section offers a fleeting moment of brightness before the music returns to its sombre, introspective tone.

This waltz thrives on subtle tempo inflections and expressive phrasing - qualities the guitar can highlight with remarkable intimacy. The melody needs to sing freely above the accompaniment, shaped with careful dynamic shading and a warm, vocal touch.

Though often grouped among Chopin’s “easier” works, its interpretive demands are anything but trivial. For a guitarist looking to broaden their repertoire, it offers a beautifully compact study in color, nuance, and emotional depth.

Score: 4 pages

Comments: 4 pages

Below is a link to Youtube which will allow you to get an idea of what this piece sounds like on the piano. (Performed by Grigory Sokolov)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXhhYLMVMAc&list=RDYXhhYLMVMAc&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