The Waltz is a masterclass in duality. On the surface, it is a buoyant, 3/4 time dance in the key of E minor (modulating to C major in the trio). However, Shostakovich injects the piece with his signature "sardonic" voice. The addition of the saxophone solo—unusual for a standard orchestral waltz—gives the piece a distinct, almost sleazy jazz club vibe. It sounds like a dance that shouldn't be taken too seriously, yet the rigorous orchestration demands serious virtuosity from the players.
Shostakovich ends cruelly. The music gets louder and louder, then suddenly collapses into a whisper. Curnow preserves this perfectly. The final three chords are fortissimo , then silence. Waltz No. 2 By Dmitri Shostakovich Arr. James Curnow Pdf
The waltz itself was originally written for the 1956 Soviet film The First Echelon . Its popularity skyrocketed in the late 1990s, becoming one of Shostakovich's most frequently rearranged works due to its infectious, mournful, yet danceable melody. The James Curnow Arrangement The Waltz is a masterclass in duality
Unlike a traditional Viennese waltz (Strauss), Shostakovich’s waltz is an . It starts with a quiet, ghostly saxophone melody. The rhythm is steady (3/4 time), but the intervals are jagged. Under the pressure of Stalinist censorship, Shostakovich mastered the art of "double meaning"—writing music that sounded joyful on the surface but felt deeply tragic underneath. This waltz is the perfect example: it is music for a ballroom where everyone is smiling, but no one is happy. The addition of the saxophone solo—unusual for a
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