Uniform sounds
Unity Sounds is a waltz by Johann Strauss Sohn (op. 62). The work was first performed in the spring of 1849.
Remarks
The performance dates of this work have not survived. According to a note in his sketchbook, Strauss designed the first motifs back in July 1848. At that time the title Einheits-Klänge would have been associated with the goals of the revolutionaries of 1848 , who called for German unity, including the German-speaking areas of the Danube Monarchy. After the suppression of the revolution and the accession of the new Emperor Franz Joseph I to the throne , the title took on a new meaning. As there were still uprisings in many areas of the Habsburg monarchy, the unity of the monarchy was the declared goal of the government in Vienna. For this purpose a new constitution was enacted on March 4, 1849. The waltz must have appeared at an unknown time afterwards. Now the title was understood as support for the regime to secure the unity of the monarchy. In this way, Strauss, at least in the eyes of those in power, went from being a former sympathizer of the revolution to a supporter of the government. Oddly enough, the orchestral parts for the work were never printed. Only one piano edition remained, on the basis of which the CD recording mentioned below was orchestrated. In the years from 1849 to the present, the work disappeared almost completely from the concert programs, before it was made available to the public again in a reconstructed form on the CD recording in question.
The playing time on the CD listed under individual records is 8 minutes and 16 seconds. Depending on the musical conception of the conductor, this time can vary by up to about a minute plus or minus.
Web links
- The Strauss dynasty in 1849 with mention of the waltz unit sounds
- Standard sounds on the Naxos online CD description
Individual proof
- ↑ Source: English version of the booklet (page x) in the 52 CD complete edition of the orchestral works by Johann Strauss (son), publisher Naxos (label) . The work can be heard as the second track on the 28th CD.