April 9: Johann Strauß II - The Beautiful Blue Danube
This is the recording I listened to
So, okay. Before I even get into the piece I need y’all to understand how disgustingly popular it is in my country. As you may or may not know, I live in Austria. This song was suggested for the list by an Austrian friend of mine, and it’s the one single classical piece she knows. I’ve heard it called the ‘inofficial national anthem’ more than once. Unironically. There’s a public toilet in Vienna where this piece is playing all day long (it’s in the subway station at the opera, if ever you want to visit). Like, this is the homeland of Mozart, but old Wolfgang wishes he had a viral hit like this little fuckery from my homie Johann II. It is hilariously popular. (In case you were wondering: yes, I’ve played this, both on clarinet and on bass drum. It’s a fun story.) It’s so incredibly overplayed, yet every time I listen to it, I really can’t hate it. I really can’t; it’s just so enjoyable? Naturally you absolutely have to listen to this piece played by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which is why I linked you a recording above (including aggressively cheerful waltzing, just like it’s supposed to be).
I have no idea why this piece in particular has been Austrian pop culture for 150 years. I mean, this is Viennese waltz executed to perfection. One thing I enjoy about Strauß is that his music really isn’t to be taken too seriously. I mean, one of his pieces is literally called ‘A musical joke’. He’s just really fun to listen to. Seeing his operetta ‘Die Fledermaus’ in Vienna was arguably the most entertaining concert experience I’ve ever had. What he often does is play around with dynamics and tempo, accelerating, then suddenly hitting the brakes, exaggerating crescendo and decrescendo (getting louder or quieter), alternating between loud and quiet in repetitions. (I’m a big fan of his use of fermatas and general pauses as well.) For an example: listen to the section between 4:51 and 5:31 where they play the same subject twice, starting out slow, constantly picking up the pace, then at 5:12 the whole orchestra seems to just pause together before they start the theme slowly again. Then at 5:31 Strauß’s just like, fuck it - boom the bass drum and really get into that waltz!
I also want to take the opportunity to talk real quick about Viennese style waltz. So, naturally, a waltz is in 3/4 time (or 6/8, but let’s stick to 3/4), meaning there are three basic counts per measure, as reflected in the steps of the dance. A typical accompaniment would be the bass instruments (e.g. double basses, tuba, maybe trombones) play on count 1, and then other instruments (typically french horns and violas (so sorry my friends)) play on counts 2 and 3, the so-called offbeats. Listen to the part from 2:21 and try to ignore the melody in the high strings. There’s a couple of seconds from 2:35 you can see the whole orchestra - see how the double basses move their hands always on count 1, while the violas (to your very right) move their bows on counts 2 and 3. Now, technically, counts 1, 2, and 3 are the exact same length, just like in math, when you have 3/4 of something, one quarter is not bigger than the next. However, in Viennese style waltz, they are not. :D In Viennese style waltz, count 2 in the accompaniment comes a little bit earlier than it’s supposed to be. Because these are the Viennese Philharmonics, you can actually hear it quite well, I think, especially in the part from 5:31.
In true Austrian waltz fashion, this piece doesn’t only have one single waltz as well, but actually there are... uh, 5 or 6, I think? Each with an A part and a B part. There’s always a lot of repetition, reprises, and backtracking in these waltzes. Which one is your favourite? I’m a big fan of the part from 4:51.
