Der Flohwalzer
Encyclopedia
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
, in Spain as La Chocolatera, in the Netherlands as Vlooienmars (Flea March), in Belgium as Valse de Puce (Flea Waltz), in Russia as Sobachiy val's (Dog Waltz), in Poland as Kotlety (Cutlet) in Bulgaria as Koteshki Marsh (Cat March), in Hungary as
Szamárinduló (Donkey March), and in Majorca as Polca de los Tontos (Fools' Polka). In Mexico it is called Los Changuitos (The Little Monkeys) and in Finland Kissanpolkka (Cat Polka). In China it is called “小偷进行曲” (Thief March). In the United Kingdom, the melody is known as Chopsticks, while in the US that name refers to another melody
.
The piece is in the key of F-sharp or G-flat. Most of its notes are played on black keys.
While the German name suggests a waltz
, the piece is not one, as it has 2/4 time signature
. The time signature of a waltz is always 3/4. The 2/4 time signature suggests a polka
, but it can also be played as a march
.
The composer is unknown. A book by Eric Baumann
attributes the piece to Ferdinand Loh, but this is obviously a joke (F. Loh = Floh—“flea
” in German).
An elaborate variation on this piece, “Lesson One”, was a hit in 1962
for Russ Conway
.
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...
piece, often one of the first learned
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
:
It is known all over the world. According to an article by Hiromi Oketani in the Osaka Shoin Women's College
Osaka Shoin Women's University
is a private women's college in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1917, and it was chartered as a university in 1949.-External links:*...
Annual for 1994, it is known in Japan as
, in Spain as La Chocolatera, in the Netherlands as Vlooienmars (Flea March), in Belgium as Valse de Puce (Flea Waltz), in Russia as Sobachiy val's (Dog Waltz), in Poland as Kotlety (Cutlet) in Bulgaria as Koteshki Marsh (Cat March), in Hungary as
Szamárinduló (Donkey March), and in Majorca as Polca de los Tontos (Fools' Polka). In Mexico it is called Los Changuitos (The Little Monkeys) and in Finland Kissanpolkka (Cat Polka). In China it is called “小偷进行曲” (Thief March). In the United Kingdom, the melody is known as Chopsticks, while in the US that name refers to another melody
Chopsticks (music)
"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...
.
The piece is in the key of F-sharp or G-flat. Most of its notes are played on black keys.
While the German name suggests a waltz
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...
, the piece is not one, as it has 2/4 time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
. The time signature of a waltz is always 3/4. The 2/4 time signature suggests a 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...
, but it can also be played as a march
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
.
The composer is unknown. A book by Eric Baumann
Eric Baumann (musicologist)
Eric Baumann is a German musicologist. He is an authority on the work of Karl May. He is better known popularly for his humorous book Der Komponist Ferdinand Loh , which is about the anonymous children's piece Der Flohwalzer.-Works:* Kleine Frühlingsmusik: für Flöte u...
attributes the piece to Ferdinand Loh, but this is obviously a joke (F. Loh = Floh—“flea
Flea
Flea is the common name for insects of the order Siphonaptera which are wingless insects with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood...
” in German).
An elaborate variation on this piece, “Lesson One”, was a hit in 1962
1962 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes both audition at Decca Records, a company which has the option of signing one group only...
for Russ Conway
Russ Conway
Russ Conway was a British popular music pianist. Conway had 20 piano instrumentals in the UK Singles Chart between 1957 and 1963, including two number one hits.-Career:...
.
External links
- MIDI file on fjkastl.de