Der Flohwalzer
The "Flea Waltz" (German: Der Flohwalzer) 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 (ねこふんじゃった, I Stepped on the Cat), 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 (Собачий Вальс, 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), in Finland Kissanpolkka (Cat's Polka) and in the Czech Republic "Prasečí valčík" (Pig Waltz). In China it is called “跳蚤圆舞曲” (Flea Waltz). 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. A waltz is always in triple meter, with a time signature such as 3/4 or 3/8. 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.