Chopin Valse Brillante Op. 34 No. 2 for String Quartet

Chopin: Valse brillante Op. 34 No. 2 for String Quartet

Chopin's Valse brillante in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2 is one of his most immediately recognisable waltzes: gently melancholic, flowing, and with a melodic line that fixes itself in the memory. This arrangement places it for string quartet, the first violin carrying the singing melody while the remaining three parts share the characteristic waltz accompaniment.

The arrangement follows Chopin's piano original closely, preserving his harmonic language and the gentle ebb and flow of his phrasing. The second violin, viola, and cello accompany in a way that distributes the figuration evenly, and the first violin line sits comfortably in its natural singing register throughout. The parts are accessible: readable at sight by a professional quartet, and manageable in a short run-through for school and amateur ensembles.

At four minutes, it fits neatly into a ceremony, concert interval, or background music programme. Long enough to register as a complete piece; short enough to sit alongside other repertoire without filling the set.

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: String Quartet (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello)
• Difficulty: accessible for school and amateur ensembles; sight-readable for professional quartets
• Duration: approximately 4 minutes
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This suits professional and semi-professional quartets looking for a reliable, well-received piece for weddings, ceremonies, or concert intervals. It works equally well for school and amateur ensembles where the familiar melody and approachable parts make it a straightforward choice to programme, and it's useful as a short filler within a mixed concert or as background music for a formal event.