THE WALTZ

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 16

THE WALTZ

; FAMOUS STRAUSS ! | DYNASTY OF WALTZ I KINGS RECALLED. ! I VIENNESE TRADITIONS Jt is an interesting coincidence that at the very time when there are rumours throughout the world of a "back-to-the-waltz” movement, a concert devoted solely to the music of the Strauss dynasty of waltz-kings should be given at the Royal Albert Hall, London, under the direction of Johknn Strauss 111. Though the history of the Viennese waltz is bound up with that of the Strauss family it did not originate with them. Schubert was, in a sense, a waltz-king, but he wrote for the piano. It was Josef Lanner who took the initiative, forming first a quartet and then a dance-band, for which he composed innumerable waltzes. In Lanner’s quartet tho viola was played by Johann Strauss 1., the founder of the dynasty, the other players being two brothers named Drahanek. v When the quartet grew to a band Strauss became deputy conductor under Lanner. In 1825 they parted and Strauss founded his own band, which became world-famous. When he died, in 1849, his eldest son was only 14, so that there was an inevitable interregnum, during which began the vogue of Hungarian bands under Joseph Gung’l and Keler Bela. The fashion for Hungarian bands, in blue or other uniforms, remained established until comparatively recent times. But when Johann Strauss 11. reached manhood the glories of the family name were quickly revived. This is the waltzking whose works are best remembered, since they include the famous ‘‘Blue Danube.”

SECRET OF AN EFFECT His two younger brothers, Josef and Kduard, were also copious writers of dance music. The three brothers composed just on 1,000 dances, the majority of which were waltzes. Even to-day the tradition of the v iennese waltz bears the Strauss impress. Its characteristic effect is obItained by simple means. If you slightly lengthen the first beat and slightly strengthen the third beat in a bar of effect will be slightlv one Viennese bands had «me habit which was not congenial to ,

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English dancers; they constantly varied the time. In Vienna the dancers were accustomed to this and took their cues promptly. In London it was said that Eduard Strauss’s band, which visited us in the ’eighties, “kept bad time.” The wonderful old tunes which Johann Strauss 111. is to revive have always had an irresistible attraction for serious musicians. When the widow of Johann Strauss 11. asked Brahms to write in her autograph album he wrote the opening bars of the “Blue Danube,” and signed them as “unfortunately not by yours sincerely Johannes Brahms.” Tausig, Eduard Schutt, Godowsky and others have made wonderful transcriptions of the waltzes for concert use, and they are frequently heard at piano recitals.