The Story Behind Shostakovich's Famous Waltz No. 2 + Intermediate Piano Sheet Music
Have you ever heard a piece of music that felt instantly familiar, even if you couldn't remember where you heard it?
That's exactly what happens with Waltz No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich. Whether you've heard it in a movie, television show, concert hall, commercial, or social media video, chances are you've come across this unforgettable melody at some point.
In fact, this beautiful waltz has become one of the most recognizable pieces of orchestral music of the twentieth century and remains one of the most requested pieces among my piano students and followers.
The story behind Waltz No. 2 is actually quite interesting.
The music was composed by Russian Composer- Dmitri Shostakovich for jazz orchestra late 1930s as part of the "Jazz Suite No. 2." For many years, this beautiful waltz was believed to be lost after World War II.
Then, only in 1988, the Waltz was brought back to the concert stage at London's Performance Hall by the legendary cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich who was first a student of Dmitri Shostakovich and later became one of his closest friends .
Thanks to his dedication and the work of music historians, this remarkable waltz was rediscovered and introduced to a new generation of audiences, eventually becoming one of the most recognizable and beloved orchestral waltzes in the world.
The popularity of the piece grew even more through films, television productions, documentaries, and recordings. One of the most famous uses of the music was in Stanley Kubrick's film Eyes Wide Shut 1991 and in 1997 movie "Anna Karenina" with Sophie Marceau and Sean Bean, where the waltz helped introduce the piece to an entirely new generation of listeners. Since then, the melody has continued to appear in various productions around the world and remains one of the most recognizable orchestral themes ever written.
For a full orchestral performance, check out this favorit performance by André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra:
For me personally, Waltz No. 2 has always been one of my favorite waltzes. Over the years, many students and pianists have asked me if I had a piano version of this piece and I made my own arrangement for piano solo and posted on YouTube. This was most viewed video and most requested piano score over 32.000 views
The challenge is that the original work was written for orchestra, not for solo piano. An orchestra has many instruments sharing melodies, harmonies, and accompaniment patterns. Translating all of those colors and textures onto a single instrument requires careful arranging. That is what inspired me to create this intermediate piano solo arrangement.
My goal was to preserve the rich character, elegance, and expressive beauty of the original orchestral version while making it practical and enjoyable for intermediate pianists to learn and perform.
The arrangement captures the famous melody and the overall atmosphere of the piece while fitting naturally under the hands. I designed it specifically for intermediate piano students who already have a foundation in note reading, rhythm, coordination, and basic piano technique.
If you are currently working at an intermediate level, this piece can be a wonderful addition to your repertoire. It offers opportunities to develop expressive phrasing, musical storytelling, dynamic control, and pedaling while learning one of the most beloved waltzes ever composed.
If you would like to learn the piece yourself, my intermediate piano solo arrangement is available below
Waltz No. 2 is one of those rare pieces that appeals to audiences and performers alike. It is sophisticated enough for adults, approachable enough for developing pianists, and memorable enough that listeners instantly recognize it. I hope you will enjoy learning and performing this beautiful masterpiece as much as I enjoyed creating this arrangement.
If you're looking for more personalized coaching on pieces you could schedule 1:1 online lesson with me
Happy practicing, and enjoy bringing this unforgettable waltz to life at your piano.
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