WALTZES ON PIANO
Back in 2009, I worked on an album of piano waltzes for the better part of the year – escalating it from a simple concept into my most extensive musical project. The final reckoning was four discs, 192 tunes, and 268 minutes of three-quarter time.
The first disc consisted of my favorite waltzes from Broadway shows; the second disc my favorite waltzes from other-than-Broadway shows; the third disc, medleys of turn-of-the-century popular songs; the fourth disc, everything else – an eclectic mix.
The selections I’ve chosen here – tracks which total under a half-hour – were taken from that fourth disc and feature waltzes from operas, operettas (including Gilbert & Sullivan), Italian favorites, Scott Joplin ragtime waltzes and some individual songs of note. (A fuller description is contained in the liner notes below.) Purists, please note: all classical melodies were boldly taken from a classical fake book.
Here’s the lineup:
1. Song of India
2. Italian Medley
3. Cara Mi
4. Merry Widow Waltz
5. Strauss Medley
6. Fascination
7. Gilbert and Sullivan Medley
8. Puccini Medley
9. Binks Waltz
10. Bethena
Additional information on the songs is contained in a PDF which you can access (before, after or while listening to the songs) by clicking on this link.