Der Flohwalzer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Flea Waltz (Der Flohwalzer in German) 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 Neko Funjatta (I Stepped on the Cat), in Spain as La Chocolatera, in the Netherlands as Vlooienmars (Flea March), in Belgium as Valse des Puces (Flea Waltz), in Russia as Sobachiy Val's (Dog Waltz), in Bulgaria as Koteshki Marsh (Cat March), in Hungary as Szamár-Induló (Donkey March), in Majorca as Polca de los Tontos (Fools' Polka), and in Denmark as Prinsesse Coben. In Mexico it is called Los Changuitos (The Little Monkeys).
The piece is in the key of F-sharp or G-flat. Most of its notes are played on black keys.
The composer is unknown. A book by Eric Baumann attributes the piece to Ferdinand Loh, but this is obviously a joke (F. Loh = Floh).
The Flea Waltz is similar to another simple piano piece, "Chopsticks".