An obscure, simplified salon-style waltz intended for recreational performance. It features a traditional 'oom-pah-pah' bass accompaniment typical of the late 19th-century dance style.
At Henle 2 this is a beginner-level piece, where steady coordination between the hands is the main hurdle. The main demands: a waltz lilt that needs charm and a flexible left hand; a true singing tone, with the melody floating above the accompaniment; and a left hand with real melodic or rhythmic responsibility of its own.
Maintain a graceful, buoyant feel in the left-hand waltz pattern without overpowering the melody.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Easy Waltz (Op.169) is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 2.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 2 — meaning you can already play level 1–2 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Easy Waltz (Op.169) lasts about 2 minutes.
Easy Waltz (Op.169) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Der Flohwalzer by Anonymous, Bach-anh-114 by Christian Petzold, 18 German Dances and Esoccaises, by Franz Schubert — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.