Chopin style Waltz!!!!!

Hiii! I had to turn in an assignment for my classic harmony class, my teacher asked for a 'chopinesque' waltz and I wrote this!

I tried to pour some of my personal style too. Besides, this style is completely new for me (you'll notice that in the music lolol) and I find some parts of the score to be awkward.

What do you think??

See ya!

Vals I.pdf

Btw, there was a national level blackout in my country so I had all the day to write this!!! lmaoo

Hey Samuel!

This waltz is not bad. You have captured most aspects of Chopin's compositional style: chromaticism, melodic decorations or fioritura (e.g., in bar 26), and inner voicings are some of those. You utilized this in your main theme, which contains notes that alternate between voices. Also, you used passing notes in the accompaniment (e.g., in bars 2, 6, 9, 11, and 22-26), a typical feature of Chopin's waltzes. Great job!

However, I have a few comments on your choice of harmony and style. Having three-bar phrases in the main theme of a waltz is somewhat unusual but innovative. Besides, I feel that the harmony in bars 18, 22, 24, and 45 could be richer: you could use dominant seventh instead of dominant chords. I'm unsure of the reason for the tonic seventh chord in bar 33: which note does the D resolve to? As you described, it feels a little awkward, but that might be me. Also, there's a parallel octave between the bass and melody in bars 34-35, which might be something to avoid in a Classical or early-Romantic composition.

Overall, I feel that this piece has room for improvement in terms of harmony. I am curious — what is the objective of this assignment? It's too bad that I did not enroll in a music school; otherwise, I would have enjoyed doing these assignments so much. 🙃

Carl Koh Wei Hao

14 minutes ago, Carl Koh Wei Hao said:

Hey Samuel!

This waltz is not bad. You have captured most aspects of Chopin's compositional style: chromaticism, melodic decorations or fioritura (e.g., in bar 26), and inner voicings are some of those. You utilized this in your main theme, which contains notes that alternate between voices. Also, you used passing notes in the accompaniment (e.g., in bars 2, 6, 9, 11, and 22-26), a typical feature of Chopin's waltzes. Great job!

However, I have a few comments on your choice of harmony and style. Having three-bar phrases in the main theme of a waltz is somewhat unusual but innovative. Besides, I feel that the harmony in bars 18, 22, 24, and 45 could be richer: you could use dominant seventh instead of dominant chords. I'm unsure of the reason for the tonic seventh chord in bar 33: which note does the D resolve to? As you described, it feels a little awkward, but that might be me. Also, there's a parallel octave between the bass and melody in bars 34-35, which might be something to avoid in a Classical or early-Romantic composition.

Overall, I feel that this piece has room for improvement in terms of harmony. I am curious — what is the objective of this assignment? It's too bad that I did not enroll in a music school; otherwise, I would have enjoyed doing these assignments so much. 🙃

Carl Koh Wei Hao

 

Hi!!

Thank you for taking the time to review my waltz! I appreciate the feedback.

As for the purpose of this assignment: I think this way we learn about melodic embellishment and development. Because we have to do a sonata (practice of form and development), a waltz, and a Brahms (practice of counterpoint and romantic harmonies)

As for the bars you mentioned: those bars have a dissonant countermelody or fioraturas, so I thought that adding the seventh was maybe too much, but I shall consider it!

Thank you!

3 minutes ago, Samuel_vangogh said:

Thank you for taking the time to review my waltz! I appreciate the feedback.

As for the purpose of this assignment: I think this way we learn about melodic embellishment and development. Because we have to do a sonata (practice of form and development), a waltz, and a Brahms (practice of counterpoint and romantic harmonies)

As for the bars you mentioned: those bars have a dissonant countermelody or fioraturas, so I thought that adding the seventh was maybe too much, but I shall consider it!

I see. That's very interesting! Good luck, and all the best in your assignment!