A Spoonful of Unique Emotion in a Waltz: Frill Waltz by Niwamori Piano
- Yeoul Choi
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Niwamori Piano is a Korean pianist and composer who shares original music on the YouTube channel Niwamori Piano. The channel focuses mainly on original piano works—minimal in style, but filled with dreamy, emotional melodies that have resonated with a wide audience. With nearly 68,000 subscribers, the channel has become a beloved space for listeners and amateur pianists alike.
One thing Niwamori Piano emphasizes is authenticity: they never use AI composition software and have no plans to do so. Instead, they aim to create a pure and personal musical style that reflects their own imagination.
Among the channel’s many works, the collection Waltzes You’ve Never Heard Before has surpassed 1.39 million views, expanding Niwamori Piano’s reach far beyond Korea to listeners around the world. Each waltz in this set is marked by its own creative color, but Frill Waltz stands out in particular. Its minimal yet ethereal melody has made it one of the most downloaded pieces from the channel’s sheet music library, thanks to its approachable three-page length and accessible level of difficulty.
Inspiration: A Curtain in the Breeze
“I kept wondering how to lay a soft background of chords and then place an unexpected melody on top. Then one day, I caught sight of a sheer frill curtain, glowing faintly in the sunlight and fluttering in the wind. I let that image guide my fingers in an improvisation, and that became the seed of the melody. The left hand creates a quiet foundation, like afternoon sunlight, while the right hand drifts irregularly, like the fabric of the curtain. The two voices weave together into a single breath.”
– Niwamori Piano
This excerpt from the composer’s own words shows us how Frill Waltz was born—an attempt to capture the fleeting beauty of a curtain dancing in the breeze.
The Opening: Setting the Mood
The first eight bars serve as an introduction, beginning with the gentle waltz rhythm and a repeating chord progression: G♭M7 – A♭M7 – E♭M7 – E♭M7. What makes this special is not a strong, bouncy waltz accent (the usual “ONE-two-three”), but rather its softness. The piece begins in pianissimo (pp) and stays there for a long stretch, giving the music a minimal, almost suspended quality.
After these eight bars, the first melody enters—full of leaps that recall a frill curtain stirring in the wind. To my ears, it even feels like the delicate tones of a wind chime, shimmering with a dreamy stillness.
What Makes Frill Waltz Special?
Beyond dynamics and melody, harmony plays a central role. The piece is written in E♭ major, but it borrows from its parallel minor key through the use of G♭.
This technique, called modal mixture, means “borrowing” a chord from the minor scale and weaving it into the major. The result is striking: the music momentarily darkens as if the light has shifted, then returns to brightness again. These quick shifts between shadow and light create the dreamy atmosphere that defines Frill Waltz.
From the very beginning until bar 24, the main chord loop—G♭M7 – A♭M7 – E♭M7 – E♭M7—is repeated like a mantra. Niwamori Piano uses this repetition in a minimalist way, but the effect is rich: a constant oscillation between warmth and mystery.
Dynamic Shaping: From Stillness to Motion
Around bar 25, the dynamic rises to mezzo piano (mp), marking the start of a new section. Here, the harmony changes as well: the G♭ disappears, and only chords native to E♭ major remain. At the same time, the melody grows bolder, with wider leaps and increasing intensity.
When the music finally swells to forte (f), it reaches the highest register of the piece—like a curtain caught in a stronger gust of wind. After this climactic moment, the sound gradually subsides, returning to the original soft chords and dynamics, and the piece closes in calm reflection.
Performance Tips for Pianists
Highlight the G♭: Don’t treat it as just another note. It’s the moment the room changes color—from bright to shadowy. Play it gently, with a slightly different tone, so its dreamy quality comes through.
Pedaling: Be careful not to blur the harmonies. Long pedal can muddy the sound, so try shorter pedaling or lift the pedal whenever the harmony shifts. This keeps the colors clean and distinct.
Shape the melody entrance: The first real theme (after bar 8) is like the moment the curtain begins to move. Bring out the sense of motion and airiness, rather than just playing the notes.
Dynamics as storytelling: The gradual rise to forte and back down again is the piece’s emotional arc. If you follow this carefully, the whole waltz will feel more alive and dramatic.
Conclusion Frill Waltz may be minimal in form, but its emotional depth lies in the small details—the gentle shifts in harmony, the delicate changes in dynamics, and the imagery of a curtain dancing in the light. It invites us to slow down, breathe with the music, and find beauty in simplicity. Whether you are an experienced musician or an amateur pianist playing for pleasure, this waltz offers a chance to connect with sound in its purest and most intimate form. If you are ready to try playing Frill Waltz yourself, please click here to check out the sheet music!
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