Windsor sounds
Windsor Sounds is a waltz by Johann Strauss Sohn (op. 104). The work was performed for the first time on January 10, 1852 in the Palais Coburg (Vienna).
Remarks
The story of the waltz has a political background. In 1851 John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland (1784-1859), became British Ambassador to Vienna. He was to hold this office until 1855. In addition to his various political and military offices, Fane, like his wife, had a penchant for music. Among other things, he was also active as a composer. In previous years, political relations between the Austrian Empire and Great Britain had been very bad. But now it was important on both sides to improve these relationships. To this end, Johann Strauss was asked to play at a house ball for the ambassador, who resided in the Palais Coburg. Strauss composed the Waltz Windsor Sounds for this purpose , named after Windsor Castle , the residence of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . The waltz was also dedicated to the queen. Strauss often played in the Palais Coburg with the British ambassador, u. a. the Albion polka . The Waltz Windsor Sounds was then presented to the general public for the first time on February 10, 1852 in the Sofienbad Hall in Vienna. It enjoyed great popularity and was on the Strauss brothers' repertoire for decades.
The playing time on the CD listed under individual records is 8 minutes and 8 seconds. Depending on the musical conception of the conductor, this time can change by up to a minute plus or minus.
Web links
- The Strauss dynasty in 1852 with mention of the Windsor Sounds waltz
- Windsor sounds 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. 87.
Individual proof
- ↑ Source: English version of the booklet (page 51) in the 52 CD complete edition of the orchestral works by Johann Strauss (son), publisher Naxos (label) . The work can be heard as the fourth track on the 17th CD.