Post by erik on Apr 29, 2023 19:18:07 GMT -5
A very obscure waltz by the youngest (and shortest-lived) member of the legendary Strauss dynasty in late 19th century Vienna is in this week's Classical Works Spotlight.
Josef Strauss: TRANSACTION WALTZ, OP. 184
Being part of a musical dynasty is never an easy thing to live up to. Such was the case with Josef Strauss, the youngest member of Vienna’s Strauss family, who had perfected waltzes and polkas into hugely popular and artistic dance forms almost by Zen therapy. Nevertheless, Johann II, the most popular and well known in the family, stated that while he was the most popular, Josef was actually the best in the family. And as with so many of the Strauss waltzes, Josef’s works in the form were as much Viennese symphonic tone poems as they were waltzes. Such was the case with his 1865 work “Transaction Waltz”, which follows the Strauss waltz procedure to a tee, basically consisting of a slow introduction, followed by a chain of small waltzes, leading to a climax. The most unusual facet of the Transaction Waltz is that it is in B Major, which was not a key used all that much in the Strauss family repertoire, though it would become a part of the playlist of numerous New Year’s Day concerts in Vienna during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Josef, sadly, had the shortest life of any member of the Strauss dynasty, passing away in July 1870 just a month short of what would have been his 43rd birthday.
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/CHRISTIAN THIELEMANN (Sony)
Included:
New Year’s Day Concert In Vienna (January 1, 2019)
Josef Strauss: TRANSACTION WALTZ, OP. 184
Being part of a musical dynasty is never an easy thing to live up to. Such was the case with Josef Strauss, the youngest member of Vienna’s Strauss family, who had perfected waltzes and polkas into hugely popular and artistic dance forms almost by Zen therapy. Nevertheless, Johann II, the most popular and well known in the family, stated that while he was the most popular, Josef was actually the best in the family. And as with so many of the Strauss waltzes, Josef’s works in the form were as much Viennese symphonic tone poems as they were waltzes. Such was the case with his 1865 work “Transaction Waltz”, which follows the Strauss waltz procedure to a tee, basically consisting of a slow introduction, followed by a chain of small waltzes, leading to a climax. The most unusual facet of the Transaction Waltz is that it is in B Major, which was not a key used all that much in the Strauss family repertoire, though it would become a part of the playlist of numerous New Year’s Day concerts in Vienna during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Josef, sadly, had the shortest life of any member of the Strauss dynasty, passing away in July 1870 just a month short of what would have been his 43rd birthday.
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/CHRISTIAN THIELEMANN (Sony)
Included:
New Year’s Day Concert In Vienna (January 1, 2019)