How To Compose A Waltz ?

Question

I'm doing GCSE music and one of my course works is to compose a waltz..............the problem is i'm a big swing fan and i keep composing a waltz with a slight jazz/swing feel. Can anyone give my some ideas of give my any composer to listen to or website............

Answer 1

Chopin is awesome waltzer....just be simple think in three beats with syncopation on the first beat.

Answer 2

What's the problem with composing a jazz waltz? If your specification is ONLY "you must compose a waltz" then you can go for that. If however you've been told you must write a classical waltz, or a waltz in a certain style (a Viennese waltz for instance) then that's a different thing entirely.

First thing to do is be clearer on exactly what it is you have to do (that's what screwed me over when I did GCSE music) there's usually some pretty clear instructions. The next step is to listen to other examples of what it is you are to compose. If it IS just "something in 3/4" then listen to a Chopin waltz, a Straus waltz and maybe some jazz ones too like waltz for Debbie or waltz for autumn. If not then listen to whatever style it is you have to compose in.

Next - how do the composers do what they do? What's good about each piece? The good news is if you can compose at all it's not too hard to compose in a different style - most western music is very similar.

If you really want to get good marks then try to include "clever" musical devices - the most obvious of which is a neapolitan sixth (something I don't really understand myself, but which Chopin uses a LOT and will certainly get you a lot of credit if you manage to include it) - other examples of which are appogiaturas and possibly suspensions.

It all depends on how much you understand about music. The good thing about GCSE music is if you are a musician in any way you WILL do well (assuming you do all you're asked to do of course). Stick to the basics at first (a simple chord progression with a good melody over the top) and then add more and more complicated things the more you understand. If you don't know about modulations for instance then try to find out about them and use it - but if not then don't worry.

Essentially compose something YOU are happy with that goes with your specification and you can't really go wrong.

Answer 3

Listen to Johann Strauss Jr. and Sr. (Strauss Jr. is the Waltz King)

To Start:
3/4 time with the stress on the first beat usually by the lower instruments(cello, bass) followed by 2 short quarter notes in the middle instruments(viola, second violin)
that is the basis of a waltz the melody must match but does not have to follow any sort of super-strict structure

hope this helps :D

Answer 4

Ok not a big deal...
Remeber 3/4 beats.
The first beet is the strongest
Try doing the um pa pa um pa pa um pa pa thing going on at the bottom while a melody is playing a top. Anything goes! Good luck!