October-December 2021

Those of you familiar with our website know that we have a large section devoted to Viennese dance music in editions for chamber music ensembles, which is how this music was heard in the cafes of Vienna and the rest of Europe. We believe this is an important addition for our chamber music players and proudly present the music of Johann Strauss Sr and Jr., Eduard Strauss, Joseph Lanner, the Schrammel brothers and Carl Michael Ziehrer among others. If you are not familiar Ziehrer's music, why not follow the links below and have a listen. You will be pleasantly surprised. Below is a selection we offer.

The Badner Park Polka was composed in 1866 for Ziehrer’s small orchestra which performed in parks and resorts. Badner Park was a well-known and much beloved pleasure garden and park located in the small resort town of Baden just outside of Vienna. By the 1860’s there was a train from Vienna to Baden and many Viennese made a day’s outing for a picnic, to walk in the beautiful park grounds and to hear the music of Ziehrer, Lanner and the Strausses played by local groups.

D'Kernmad'ln 'An Original Styrian Dance'. Styrian dances were Ländler (country dances) which were predecessors to the waltz. They were generally slow. They became the rage in Vienna dance halls in the 1830's when Josef Lanner's Steirische Tänze (Styrian Dances) and Hoamweh popularized them. They are named after the pretty Alpine singers that often wandered the countryside, the Kernmad'ln (Viennese dialect for these girls). It dates from 1860 and became quite popular immediately and helped to establish Ziehrer's reputation as a rival to the Johann Strauss Jr.

From 17th to 19th Century, most court balls would be opened by a “Polonaise”. The name of that dance comes from the French word for “Polish”. It has indeed Polish origins and as many dances peasant origins too. In the 17th Century the dance became popular at the Polish Court. It is a processional dance in 3/4 time. Typically, couples enter the ballroom in a procession on this march-like music. Nowadays the Polonaise is still played at the opening of most Viennese Balls for the entrance of dignitaries into the ballroom and for the entrance of the debutantes. The most popular of the Polonaise of them all is the Fächer Polonaise was composed around 1900. The word Fächer, fan in English, refers to the practice of most ladies carrying a fan with them at balls.

The Loslassen Polka dates from 1887. A quick polka, it became one of Ziehrer’s most popular works and at least in Vienna equally as popular as Johann Strauss Jr.’s more more famous works. It was regularly the high point and final dance at many of Vienna’s grand balls. The literal translation of loslassen is release but it is generally used in exciting situations and often shouted, and perhaps could more accurately be translated as ‘let ‘er rip!’, shoot! or fire.

 The Ur Wiener Polka was composed in 1883. It was dedicated to the Verein Ur-Wiener—the Society of True Viennese or real Vienese. Actually, the Society, which was founded earlier that year was an organization for Vienna’s fashionable upper crust, people who strolled along the walks of Vienna’s Volksgarten with expensive pure breed dogs. The premiere took place in Dreher’s restaurant and ballroom, quite close to where Ziehrer lived. It was performed by the members of the K.und K. (royal and imperial) Hoch und Deutschmeister Infantry Regiment Band of which Ziehrer was the director. The premiere was a huge success which was repeated when Ziehrer took his band to Munich, Berlin and the World’s Fair in Chicago.

The Wiener Bürger (Viennese Citizens) Waltzes were composed in 1890. They consist of an introduction, three waltzes and a coda. The introduction instantly reminds one of the military band, one hears the trumpet (violin) in the far off distance call everyone to order, gathering attention and then slowly fading away. The three waltzes which follow are as Viennese as anything ever composed. 

We highly recommend these works to professionals and amateurs. You can hear soundbites from both piano quartets by clicking on the links above. And all are available from Edition Silvertrust.