Ländler
German composer
Definition
An Austrian country dance in 3/4, the folk predecessor to the waltz. Schubert elevated it into an intimate, nostalgic art form in hundreds of short piano pieces.
Interpretive Guidance
Play Ländler with a gentle lilt — a slight emphasis on the first beat without heaviness. The character should feel rustic and warm, never sophisticated or stiff. A natural ritardando at phrase endings is idiomatic.