My thoughts exactly! The seeds of jazz are clearly in those waltzes.

I am listening to Arthur Rubenstein playing Chopin Waltzes in my car right now.

Hi,

I started playing some Chopin, and composed a song where I improvise what I guess you would call "Jazz" on top, the "Circle of Fifths" that is in many songs - latin too - flamenco as well.

webpageexperience.com/mid/Wha...ync0.mid

I really enjoy soloing (I could say Impromptu-ing to sound more refined hum?) over the basic Waltz bass-chord-chord of the waltz, and Chopin has "taught me" the form expertly!

A friend replied "I'd like to dance the Waltz with you" but Johan Strauss waltzes are the social dancing ones, and much later than Chopin's. I was complaining to a friend that with the RUBATO making the time delay, retard etc... it would be impossible for a percussionist or other musician, and dancing would be difficult. Especially I was listening to Ashkenazy with his quantum-trills, well the friend tried to dance and almost fell down! LOL! Hah!

Rubenstein I believe said that he played IN TIME, meaning a metronome COULD be going, but no one likes his Chopin.

Let me ask you: isn't it true, if people including Ashkenazy, Lang Lang, Yundi Li and all, play with both hands rubato, not the technically true rubato where one hand keeps strict time, well, if everyone plays a certain way, THAT IS WHAT IS CONSIDERED CORRECT, right?

You said: " I know that when they were heard, listeners sometimes scoffed at them as they were not danceable. " do you mean back in the 19th century? I believe SALON MUSIC at the time wasn't really to be danced to. I the book: "Chopin Waltzes for the Piano" and the first 4 are called "Grande Valse Brillante" but then each one has a "to Mlle. J. de Thun-Hohenstein" or some such credit. I was told these would be played when people enter, and their names were called out, some kind of behind the introductions music.

Personally, I'll tell you, music was much more involving back in those days. No "background music" like in TV shows, movies, etc. In those days, to hear good music:

You got dressed well, had a great meal, then made an entrance at the music hall, sat politely like everyone else, and after the music you would applaud and such. Nowadays we are trained to IGNORE MUSIC! Really! And mikes and electric instruments, well, it was much more GENUINE in those days I would say.

I have a few other waltzes to share here: givnology.com/eve/forums/...m/7641057422

Enjoy!

Harmony and balance to all, Teo ;)