Freedom songs
Freiheits-Lieder is a waltz by Johann Strauss Sohn (op. 52). The work was performed for the first time on May 28, 1848 at a folk festival in the Casino Zögernitz, Oberdöbling (today: Vienna , 19th district).
Remarks
The waltz originated in Vienna during the revolution of 1848. It was initially performed under the title Barricade Songs. That should be reminiscent of the barricade fighting of those days. Strauss was a sympathizer of the revolutionary movement at the time, but he was not an active revolutionary himself. Just one week after the premiere, the waltz was renamed Freedom Songs . In this title, too, the striving for freedom resonates as one of the themes of the revolution. Musically, however, the waltz has no allusions to the revolution. Strauss wrote pleasant melodies that were well received. That it was by no means a revolutionary work can also be seen from the fact that the waltz was not banned after the suppression of the revolution. It stayed on the concert schedule for a long time and is still played occasionally today.
The playing time on the CD listed under individual records is 9 minutes and 37 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 1848 with mention of the waltz freedom songs
- Freedom Songs on the Naxos online CD description
literature
- Peter Kemp: The Strauss Family: History of a Musician Dynasty. Heyne Biographien, ISBN 3-453-04621-8 , p. 77.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Source: English version of the booklet (page 50) in the 52 CD complete edition of the orchestral works by Johann Strauss (son), published by Naxos (label) . The work can be heard as the first track on the 17th CD.