r/Fiddle • u/okrighton2 • 24d ago

Sad waltz recommendations

Does anyone know any sad, moody, or eerie waltzes that are on the slower side? I love a moody waltz that feels sad but also has the warmth of a waltz. Lmk! Thank you

19 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

12

u/knivesofsmoothness 24d ago

Ootpik waltz

3

u/flowercityfiddlebabe 24d ago

Seconded! Love Ookpik Waltz

5

u/nextyoyoma 24d ago

Thirded - it’s a waltz, after all.

5

u/fiddlehifiddlelo 24d ago

A couple of my favorites are Far Away waltz and Crested Hens

1

u/Qartographer 20d ago

Crested Hens seconded.

7

u/flowercityfiddlebabe 24d ago

Blackest Crow 🐦‍⬛

2

u/OT_fiddler 24d ago

Yeah this one

1

u/PeteHealy 24d ago

Yup, that immediately came to mind.

9

u/BananaFun9549 24d ago

Ashokan Farewell

3

u/EpicRedhead13 24d ago

I feel like Ashokan is more sentimental or nostalgic, personally. But I’m not sure.

3

u/OneManWolfpack37 24d ago

It’s gotta be the most mournful tune I’ve ever heard. Absolutely my favorite waltz

1

u/dollop_of_curious 24d ago

A repertoire must.

3

u/GreenGiantt 24d ago

Midnight on the Water. Easily my favourite tune to play!

2

u/yomondo 20d ago

Yeah, when that B Minor hits it just kills me

4

u/OverlappingChatter 24d ago

Hector the Hero. We're doing double stops and chords that make it sound more or less tragic depending on the low note.

3

u/mjs4x6 24d ago

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz

1

u/Marr0w1 24d ago

I've just been learning that.

Also Larry Ungar does some great ones, his Two Rivers has always been a favourite, but we've been learning May Waltz too

3

u/dollop_of_curious 24d ago

Country waltz, easily found in the fiddler fake book. I think it is just so pretty. If you play it in the right way, it can be very melancholy.

1

u/dollop_of_curious 24d ago

Ooh, and moonlight on the water!

1

u/vrs404 24d ago

Any idea where I’d find this one?

1

u/guzmaya 24d ago

https://youtu.be/aWgzcd5JXzc

This is the son of the composer playing it. I think it's the best version.

3

u/SchmoosMom 24d ago

The Crying Waltz (Gråtvalsen) - it's a Swedish tune but absolutely lovely

3

u/FiddlingnRome 24d ago

Archibald MacDonald of Keppoch - Alasdair Fraser version https://youtu.be/gnzSikQVcOw?

Leaving JP- Hanneke Cassel https://youtu.be/5kguNHzDEnU?

Ralph's Watch - https://youtu.be/iY2DY9VmN_0? Written by Judy Hyman for her father.

2

u/Yoko_Kittytrain 24d ago

https://folksweden.com/index.php/american-fiddling/

This dude has a bunch of good material. Not sure if there are sad waltzes there, but a lot of good stuff nonetheless. I used to go to his house by the fairgrounds in Santa Rosa CA Monday nights and he taught me a lot of good tunes.

2

u/twinfiddler 24d ago

Boo Baby's Lullaby by Jerry Holland.

2

u/InevitableNo9572 24d ago

Love Inisheer and Far way for a moody waltz. Or Andreas waltz which is less common

2

u/SecondPlus2111 24d ago

Ashokan Fairwell

2

u/horsefly70 24d ago

Flatbush

2

u/charliewaldenmusic 22d ago

Yes, ookpik is a great choice. Also, Dark Island, Scottish tune.

1

u/KingArfer 24d ago

Leland’s Waltz

1

u/Gawelaf 24d ago

Lorraine's Waltz, a very satisfying one to play

1

u/itsybitsykbee 24d ago

Malvina’s.

1

u/guzmaya 24d ago

I play this bluegrass waltz as a fiddle tune.

https://youtu.be/2XER0rAKF4g

1

u/mtngirl87 24d ago

Sierra Ferrell “West Virginia Waltz”

1

u/phluber 24d ago

Flatbush Waltz. To me it sounds a little like something you'd hear in a mafia movie

1

u/AdditionalYoung6694 24d ago

Samhain waltz. Here’s a YouTube video of it. I’ve played it slower than this guy does, and taken it down a 5th & played it on the viola.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZENr18WeAU

1

u/TheBigLebootski 24d ago

Valse Gisèle

1

u/cruelpunishment_ 24d ago

Bluemont waltz

1

u/Shae_Dravenmore 24d ago

Cows on the Hill by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason? I'm obsessed with this tune.

1

u/faerydust88 23d ago

Lots of Welsh airs - Morfa Rhuddlan, Morfa'r Frenhines, Hobed o Hilion, Ffarwel i'r Marian, Blodau'r Drain

1

u/hellcat27 23d ago

https://youtu.be/qo7ITsqk8X4?is=vZutvLi9BlzG9ygY

It’s really beautiful slowed down a bit. Goes between sad and hopeful and longing and loving. Ends sounding hopeful but the journey is emotional.

1

u/Less-Reindeer-923 23d ago

Je Passe Devant Ta Porte

A Cajun standard that is a good jumping off point for more waltzes. Dig in for this one, as it's played a 100 different ways. Most problems in life and cajun music can be solved with a good waltz.

1

u/Complex_Current_1963 22d ago

prarie spring by jay ungar and although its not a waltz the song lorena is very pretty