Name that piano piece

May 12, 2013 8:55 PM

Can you help me identify this piano piece? I came across in this Al Jazeera documentary about gang violence in San Salvador. If possible, I'd like to find the sheet music...but I have no idea whether it was written for the doc or if it's a well-known piece. Any help is appreciated!
posted by beau jackson to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Though I can't match it to a specific piece, it sounds very much like a Chopin Mazurka. Here's what I think is a similar-sounding piece for comparison:
Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin Mazurka, Op. 67 No. 2
posted by EKStickland at 6:33 AM on May 13, 2013

Sorry, it's not Chopin. But I agree, the waltzy rhythm and tempo are close to the Rubinstein example.

My guess is
a) no it was not written for the doc,
b) no it's not a very well known piece - within the Romantic canon at least

[bugs me no end that I don't recognize the piece]
posted by Namlit at 6:50 AM on May 13, 2013

A few more ideas about this:

Seconding the possibility of a Chopin Mazurka or possibly a Chopin Waltz. The meter sounds mazurka-y to my ears.

Also possible that it could be a Latin American or Spanish composer, such as Granados or Albeniz. They were both prolific in piano music I think. According to Google, Granados wrote a series of "Valses Poeticos" for piano. This could be a possibility. Albeniz also apparently wrote some piano waltzes.

I hope the mystery gets solved!
posted by mermily at 12:30 PM on May 14, 2013

Response by poster: I hope the mystery gets solved!

I hope so too! And I'm surprised that it is still a mystery. I know there are so very knowledgeable minds out there.

Thanks all for pointing me in the direction of like-sounding pieces and possible composers. In any case, it gives me some news things to explore.
posted by beau jackson at 7:04 PM on May 14, 2013