Chopin wrote his first waltz at the age of 14, and worked in the genre until the end of his life. He intended these works not for dancing, but for concert performance, and for this reason in terms of their form, and mood, Chopin created a most diverse collection, rich in invention. In them can be found virtuoso show-pieces, such as the first piece in the volume (Op. 18, E flat major), or the famous Minute Waltz (Op. 64 No. 1), and gloomy, introspective, pensive pieces (e.g. Op. 34 No. 2).

The...