Minute Waltz

Chopin composed the waltz in 1847 and had it published by Breitkopf & Härtel[1] in Leipzig the same year, as the first of the Trois Valses, Op.

A fast version of the waltz, played by Arthur Rubinstein, has served as the theme music for the BBC Radio 4 show Just a Minute since the programme’s inception.

The first consists of the familiar opening melody over standard waltz accompaniment, frequently rising an octave only to drop back down.

The second theme is similar, but not identical, and features several broken scales over several octaves between a repeated quarter note and triplet motive.

New Orleans rhythm and blues pianist James Booker included an instrumental version on his album Junco Partner (1976).

[9] The composers Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji,[10] Rafael Joseffy, Max Reger, Leopold Godowsky, Jeannot Heinen [lb], Moriz Rosenthal, Giuseppe Ferrata,[11] Sam Raphling, Marc-André Hamelin,[12] and Bertold Hummel[13] created paraphrases of the "Minute Waltz".