Kaiser waltz

The Kaiserwalzer ( op. 437) is a concert waltz by Johann Strauss (son) , which he composed for the opening of the Königsbau concert hall in Berlin (on October 19, 1889) with the title Hand in Hand . The original title was intended to express the political ties between the Prussian and Austrian ruling houses. Presumably at the instigation of his new Berlin publisher Fritz Simrock , the name was changed to Kaiserwalzer .

Premieres

The first performance of the work did not take place at the opening of the concert hall, but two days later under the personal direction of the composer. As early as November 11, 1889, the waltz was brought to the Viennese audience for the first time in the Ronacher by Carl Michael Ziehrer . Ziehrer had orchestrated the Kaiserwalzer from a piano reduction and thus aroused Strauss' displeasure. On November 24th - as part of a benefit concert by his brother Eduard - the composer, as conductor of the Strauss Chapel, presented his waltz to the Viennese audience in the "original instrumentation". The concert took place in the Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein , the Kaiserwalzer was cheered and had to be repeated.

Musical explanations

$\ relative c '{\ new PianoStaff << \ new Staff {\ key a \ minor \ time 2/2 \ tempo \ markup {\ column {\ line {Introduction. } \ line {Slow marching pace. }}} <ce,> -. \ pp g4-. <ce,> -. g4-. <ce,> -. g4-. <ce,> -. g4-. <e 'cg> r8 <ec> 8 <eg> 4 r8 <db> 8 <db f'> 4 <db f '> <ce> r <ce> r8 <ce> 8 <eg> 4 r8 <gb> 8 <afb,> 4 <afb,> <ge c> r} \ new Staff {\ key a \ minor \ time 2/2 \ clef bass <c ,, c,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. <cc,> -. g4-. } >>}$

The waltz begins with a soft fanfare in the snare drum and the woodwinds to the march rhythm (2/4). After a few musical adornments and embellishments, it is played back brilliantly after a crescendo. Now the first waltz sounds, introduced by the cello, full of songs. A quiet, beautiful main melody, which is soon replaced by a powerful and lively forte . After the first theme reverberates, it sounds again at first softly, but then again radiant and bright. The second waltz begins with a longing melody before powerful rhythms introduce the third waltz. With its wonderful melodies, this is one of the most beautiful inventions by Strauss. A solo in the trumpets closes this brilliantly.

Waltz 2

$\ relative c '{\ new PianoStaff << \ new Staff {\ key f \ minor \ time 3/4 \ tempo \ markup {\ column {}} r <aes' aes '> -. (<aes aes'> - .) <aes aes'> (<g g '> c) <cf,> 2. (<bes f>) r4 <g g'> 4 -. (<g g '> -.) <g g'> (<f f '> bes) <bes ees,> 2. (<aes ees>) r4 f'4 -. (f-.) f (ees aes,) aes \ mordent (g) aes bes2} \ new Dynamics {s \ p} \ new Staff {\ key f \ minor \ time 3/4 \ clef bass c ,, 4 <aes 'ees'> <aes ees '> c, <aes' ees '> <aes ees'> des, <bes' des> <bes des> des, <bes' des> <bes des> bes, <bes' des> <bes des> ees, <g des'> <g des'> c, <ees c 'aes> <ees c' aes> c <ees c 'aes> <ees c' aes> aes, <aes 'ees' c> <aes ees 'c> aes, <aes' ees 'c> <aes ees' c> ees <bes' des> <bes des> ees,} >>}$

In the fourth waltz, a very broad, then again a longing theme is heard, which at the end is closed again by the first theme. In the coda , as is usual with Strauss, waltz 1 sounds again in the full splendor of the orchestra. Then excerpts from Waltz 3 are played again. The cello then plays a soft melody that ends in the main theme of waltz 1, before the waltz experiences a flute solo and comes to a dignified end after a crescendo .

Success and importance

This waltz is undoubtedly one of the most famous works of the Waltz King. At the annual New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic , it is often included in the program and always welcomed and positively returned by the audience.

Remarks

The original title of the waltz was Hand in Hand and referred to the alliance between the German Empire and the Danube Monarchy. It was changed before the premiere. The meaning stayed the same. However, this now referred to the two Emperors Wilhelm II and Franz Joseph I, who were politically allied and followed a common foreign policy path. Only a few days earlier this alliance had been confirmed on the occasion of a visit by the Austrian emperor to Berlin.

The playing time on the CD listed under individual records is 12 minutes and 54 seconds. Depending on the musical conception of the conductor, this time can change by up to a minute plus or minus.

Web links

The Kaiser Waltz on the Naxos online CD description

Individual proof

↑ Source: English version of the booklet (page 33) in the 52 CD complete edition of the orchestral works by Johann Strauss (son), publisher Naxos (label) . The work can be heard as the tenth track on the 9th CD.

[1] Source: English version of the booklet (page 33) in the 52 CD complete edition of the orchestral works by Johann Strauss (son), publisher Naxos (label) . The work can be heard as the tenth track on the 9th CD.