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Chopsticks (music)
Encyclopedia
"Chopsticks" is a simple, extremely well known waltz
for the piano
. It was written in 1877 by the British composer Euphemia Allen
under the pseudonym
Arthur de Lulli. Allen, who was the sister of a music publisher, was supposedly only sixteen when she composed the piece, with arrangements for solo and duet.
The title Chop Waltz comes from Allen's specification that the melody
be played in two-part harmony with both hands held sideways, little fingers down, striking the keys with a chopping motion. This name suggests the piece should be played in 3/4 (waltz) metre
, although it is also commonly heard with the stresses as in 6/8 time.
An equivalent of this rudimentary two-finger piano exercise was known in Russia
in duple meter as "tati-tati" or the "Cutlet Polka
". This version alternates the notes between the hands, as follows—
—rather than playing them at the same time in harmony.
A group of Russian composers — Alexander Borodin
, César Cui
, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
, Anatoly Lyadov, and Nikolai Shcherbachov (with a modest addition by Franz Liszt
) — collaboratively composed
four-hand piano variations on this theme
for Borodin's daughter Gania. (Modest Mussorgsky
did not participate, thinking that the composition would be meaningless.) The original edition of this collection dates from 1879 under the title Paraphrases; over the next several years it was expanded to a set of 24 variations and 17 other pieces.
In the highly praised 1946 William Wyler
film The Best Years of Our Lives
, a story chronicling the difficulties facing returning servicemen from overseas, the famous song composer Hoagy Carmichael
performs a duet of "Chopsticks" with Harold Russell
, who played the part of a World War II Navy veteran who lost both of his hands in combat, winning two Academy Awards
. He played the simple piece (including variations) with Hoagy taking the lower part. Mr. Russell's hooks that served as hands seemingly did not deter him from delivering a superb rendering of the tune, complete with a final glissando
up the keyboard.
The Celebrated Chop Waltz is sometimes confused with Der Flohwalzer
(the Flea Waltz), which in the UK is also known by the name Chopsticks.
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. It was written in 1877 by the British composer Euphemia Allen
Euphemia Allen
Euphemia Allen was a British composer. She composed the tune Chopsticks in 1877 under the pseudonym Arthur de Lulli.- External links :...
under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Arthur de Lulli. Allen, who was the sister of a music publisher, was supposedly only sixteen when she composed the piece, with arrangements for solo and duet.
The title Chop Waltz comes from Allen's specification that the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
be played in two-part harmony with both hands held sideways, little fingers down, striking the keys with a chopping motion. This name suggests the piece should be played in 3/4 (waltz) metre
Metre (music)
Meter or metre is a term that music has inherited from the rhythmic element of poetry where it means the number of lines in a verse, the number of syllables in each line and the arrangement of those syllables as long or short, accented or unaccented...
, although it is also commonly heard with the stresses as in 6/8 time.
An equivalent of this rudimentary two-finger piano exercise was known in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in duple meter as "tati-tati" or the "Cutlet Polka
Polka
The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia...
". This version alternates the notes between the hands, as follows—
A group of Russian composers — Alexander Borodin
Alexander Borodin
Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin was a Russian Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian–Russian parentage. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five , who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music...
, César Cui
César Cui
César Antonovich Cui was a Russian of French and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer and a teacher of fortifications; his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music, in that he was a composer and music critic; in this sideline he is known as a...
, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
, Anatoly Lyadov, and Nikolai Shcherbachov (with a modest addition by Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
) — collaboratively composed
Classical music written in collaboration
In classical music, it is relatively rare for a work to be written in collaboration by multiple composers. This contrasts with popular music, where it is common for more than one person to contribute to the music for a song...
four-hand piano variations on this theme
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
for Borodin's daughter Gania. (Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
did not participate, thinking that the composition would be meaningless.) The original edition of this collection dates from 1879 under the title Paraphrases; over the next several years it was expanded to a set of 24 variations and 17 other pieces.
In the highly praised 1946 William Wyler
William Wyler
William Wyler was a leading American motion picture director, producer, and screenwriter.Notable works included Ben-Hur , The Best Years of Our Lives , and Mrs. Miniver , all of which won Wyler Academy Awards for Best Director, and also won Best Picture...
film The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Best Years of Our Lives is a 1946 American drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell, a United States paratrooper who lost both hands in a military training accident. The film is about three United States...
, a story chronicling the difficulties facing returning servicemen from overseas, the famous song composer Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
performs a duet of "Chopsticks" with Harold Russell
Harold Russell
Harold John Russell was a Canadian-American World War II veteran who became one of only two non-professional actors to win an Academy Award for acting...
, who played the part of a World War II Navy veteran who lost both of his hands in combat, winning two Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. He played the simple piece (including variations) with Hoagy taking the lower part. Mr. Russell's hooks that served as hands seemingly did not deter him from delivering a superb rendering of the tune, complete with a final glissando
Glissando
In music, a glissando is a glide from one pitch to another. It is an Italianized musical term derived from the French glisser, to glide. In some contexts it is distinguished from the continuous portamento...
up the keyboard.
The Celebrated Chop Waltz is sometimes confused with Der Flohwalzer
Der Flohwalzer
The Flea Waltz is a simple piano piece, often one of the first learned:It is known all over the world. According to an article by Hiromi Oketani in the Osaka Shoin Women's College Annual for 1994, it is known in Japan as...
(the Flea Waltz), which in the UK is also known by the name Chopsticks.