Waltz

Grieg's Lyriske småstykker (Lyric Pieces) Op. 12 was the first volume of what eventually grew to ten books — the diary in miniatures of a Norwegian Romantic. The Waltz, second in the set, is Grieg's first concession to the salon idiom: a charming A-minor turn with a brighter major-key middle section, written to be played at home rather than in concert.

Technically the piece tests waltz character: a clear three-in-a-bar with a buoyant downbeat, light second and third beats, and a singing right-hand line that floats over the lift. The opening A-minor section uses a simple oom-pah-pah left-hand pattern; the middle section in the relative major asks for a smoother, more legato accompaniment. There are small leaps in the right hand and one or two passing chromatic notes.

Two pitfalls. First, students play all three beats at the same weight — the waltz lift goes flat. Train the left hand to play–touch–touch before adding the right. Second, the middle section is sometimes treated as a louder version of the opening; the score asks for a colour change, not a volume change — a warmer, more sustained tone.

Listening: PD recordings of Grieg's Lyric Pieces are widely available (Musopen, IMSLP audio). Historical recordings — Grieg himself made piano-roll recordings of selected Lyric Pieces — give the most authoritative reference for the dance feel.