Valses
Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin is best remembered as a composer of ragtime, writing at least 45 pieces in this genre. The five waltzes in this book were first published between 1896 and 1909, and are often found in larger anthologies of his solo piano music. The content of this collection is: Binks' Waltz, Pleasant Moments, Waltz Augustan Club, Bethena and Harmony Club Waltz. To produce this edition, Wolfgang Birtel has gone back to the first editions of these pieces. Pedalling indications are included, fingering is not, and scoring has been left 'as in the original'.
The pieces are not particularly challenging technically, and should be accessible to most Grade 7 or 8 pianists. Indeed, perhaps the reason they are not reached is that they are not hard enough for the concert platform! Although the waltzes have not attracted you much attention, do not let this put you off. A piece such as Bethena, subtitled 'a concert waltz' (effectively featured in the film adaptation of Francis Scott Fitzgerald's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt), will surely succeed in disarming you with its simple yet heartfelt melody. In sum, this is an edition of these pieces that is as clear as and easy to read.

Pianist Magazine , November 2011