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Johann STRAUSS I, father (1804-1849)
Galop of Fury, op.114
The Four Temperaments Waltz, op.59
Masked Ball Galop, op.86
Jelacic March, op.244
Swedish Songs, Waltz, op.207
Quadrille in Military Style, op.229
Beloved Kathinka Polka, op.210
Chinese-Galop, op.20
Radetzky March, op.228
Salon Polka, op.161
Tanz-Signale Waltz, op.218
Exeter Polka op.249
Fire of Youth Galop, op.90
Johann STRAUSS II, son (1825 - 1899)

Emperor Waltz, op.437
Old Vienna Strauss Ensemble/Ralph Kulling
Recorded at Stuttgart Botnang Concert Hall, 2-5 October 2003. DDD
HERA 02007 [68:15]

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This is one of seven CDs of dances by the Strauss family and their contemporaries, forebears and successors. These are all played to the manner born by the Old Vienna Strauss Ensemble and have been issued by the little known Stuttgart-based Hera label. Full details appear at the end of this review.

There are fewer recordings of the compositions of Strauss the father in the CD catalogue compared with that of the son and this makes this modern recording particularly welcome. Played by a typical salon/ballroom sized orchestra (twelve players) the ensemble provides an excellent sound and features playing characterised by both strength and sensitivity.

Along with old favourites like the Radetzky March there are a number of lesser-known pieces like Beloved Kathinka, Galop of Fury, and Fire of Youth of which only one other recording exists. The Chinese Galop, Four Temperaments Waltz, Jelacic March, Masked Ball, Swedish Songs, Tanz-Signale Waltz and Quadrille in Military Style seem to have been previously unavailable on CD.

All of the unknown pieces have merit. I particularly enjoyed the galops with their bright, catchy melodies. Of these, the Galop of Fury and Fire of Youth are the best. The alpine-horn opening of the Swedish Songs anticipates Rossini’s William Tell yet the waltz section is definitely Viennese. The long Four Temperaments (11:14) suffers from a lengthy introduction of over 0:90 after which the piece breaks into a nondescript and uninspired tune which is lightly orchestrated. The Tanz-Signale Waltz is of similar construction yet far more expressive.

In this recording the Radetzky March opens unusually at a rather leisurely and plodding pace but resumes the expected tempo when its second theme appears. I don’t see what is to be gained musically by this speed change [see footnote]. It is odd to find the Emperor Waltz of Johann Strauss II included on a disc devoted to Strauss I since there are many good recordings of this piece elsewhere even though I have to agree that here it is delicately played to good effect.

Under Ralph Kulling, the orchestra handles the tunes with sensitivity. They are superbly recorded in ideal surroundings. Short notes on the pieces are provided in German, English and French.

Raymond Walker

footnote

Dear Mr. Raymond Walker,
here my explaining the deliberate tempo changes in the Radetzky march

From exchanges with Dr. Eduard Strauss (president of the Vienna Institute for Strauss research) and Prof. Franz Mailer (president of the Austrian Johann Strauss society) I learned that this march is originally a so called "horseman march" to the rythm of which the cavallery was excersizing on the excersizing ground.

The quicker bars of introduction were meant to help the horses´ attention, the following tempi refer to the different pacings of horses (slow "walking" pace, trot). I was trying to accord exactly with these paces in my musical interpretation.

Sincerely
Ralph Kulling
Leader of Alt-Wiener Strauss-Ensemble



 

LIST OF OLD VIENNA STRAUSS ENSEMBLE ON HERA
HERA02007
Tanzsignale (Programm der Neujahrskonzerte 2004)
Johann Strauss, Vater

Furioso-Galopp, op.114
Die vier Temperamente, Walzer, op. 59
Ballnacht-Galopp, op. 86
Jelacic-Marsch, op. 244
Schwedische Lieder , Walzer, op. 207
Quadrille im militärischen Style, op. 229
Beliebte Kathinka-Polka , op. 210
Chineser-Galoppe, op. 20
Radetzky- Marsch, op. 228
Salon-Polka, op. 161
Tanz-Signale, Walzer, op. 218
Exeter-Polka, op.249
Jugendfeuer-Galopp, op. 90
Johann Strauss, Sohn

Kaiserwalzer, op. 437
Neujahrskonzert 2003 (hera02006)
Franz von Suppé

Ouvertüre "Ein Morgen, ein Mittag, ein Abend in Wien"
Johann Strauss, Vater

Cachucha-Galopp, op. 97
Léo Delibes

Arie "Les Filles de Cadix"
Josef Strauss

Freigeister, Polka schnell, op. 253
Eduard Strauss

Telephon-Polka, Polka francaise, op. 165
Johann Strauss

"Vergessenes Lied", nach Motiven der Operette "Indigo und die 40 Räuber"
Josef Strauss

Delirien-Walzer, op.212
Hektor Berlioz

"Un bal", Valse aus der "Symphonie fantastique"
Josef Strauss

Pêle-mêle, Polka schnell, op. 161
Vincenz Stelzmüller

Tanz für 2 Violinen, Gitarre und Kontrabass
Johann Mayer

"Schnofler-Tanz" für 2 Violinen, Gitarre und Kontrabass
Eduard Strauss

Bahn-frei, Polka schnell, op. 45
Johann Strauss

"Grüß' Dich Gott mein liebes Nesterl" , Arie der Gräfin aus "Wiener Blut"
Johann Strauss

Tausend und eine Nacht , Walzer, op. 346
G. Rossini

Cavatine der Rosina aus "Der Barbier von Sevilla"
Eduard Strauss

Mit Extrapost, Polka schnell, op. 259
Strauss Highlights Vol.1 (hera 02001)
Johann Strauss 1825-1899

An der schönen blauen Donau, Walzer, op. 314
Wiener Bonbons, Walzer, op. 307
Ouvertüre zur Operette "Cagliostro in Wien"
Dolci Pianti, Cello-Romanze, Solist: Jan Pas
Csardas aus "Ritter Pasman", Solo-Violine: Arthur Kulling
Bauernpolka, op. 276
Rosen aus dem Süden, Walzer, op. 388
Josef Strauss 1827-1870

Gedenke mein, Schnellpolka, op. 38
Die Libelle, Polka Mazurka, op. 204
Johann Strauss, Vater 1804-1849
Eisele-Beisele-Sprünge, Polka française, op. 202
Eduard Strauss 1835-1916

Die Wienerin, Polka française, ohne Opus
Mit Extrapost, Schnellpolka, op. 259
Die Biene, Polka française, op. 54
Johann und Josef Strauss

Pizzicato-Polka
Highlights Vol.2 "Künstlerleben" (hera02002)
Johann Strauss 1825-1899

Künstlerleben, Walzer, op. 316
Attaque-Quadrille, op. 76
Prinz Methusalem, Ouverture
Im Krapfenwald'l, Polka française, op.336
Josef Strauss 1827-1870

Die Naßwalderin, Ländler, op. 267
Plappermäulchen, musikalischer Scherz, Polka schnell, op. 245
Vergißmeinnich, Polka Mazur, op.2
Johann Strauss (Vater) 1804-1849,

Sommernachtsträume, Walzer, op. 180
Gitana-Galopp, op. 108
Eduard Strauss 1835-1916

Wo man lacht und lebt, Polka schnell, op. 108
Ball-Promessen, Walzer, op.82
Highlights Vol.3 "Herzschrittmacher" (hera02003)
Johann Strauss, Vater 1804-1849

Radetzky-Marsch, op. 228
Gitana-Galopp, op. 108
Johann Strauss 1825- 1899

Furioso, Schnellpolka, quasi Galopp, op.260
Bauernpolka, op. 276
Auf der Jagd, Schnellpolka, op. 373
Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, op. 214
Künstler-Quadrille, op. 201
Egyptischer Marsch, op. 335
Eljen a Magyar, Schnellpolka, op. 332
Attaque Quadrille, op. 76
Unter Donner und Blitz, Schnellpolka, op. 324
Eduard Strauss 1835-1916

Wo man lacht und lebt, Schnellpolka, op. 108
Bahn frei, Schnellpolka, op. 45
Mit Extrapost, Schnellpolka, op. 259
Auf und davon, Schnellpolka, op. 73
Josef Strauss 1827-1870

Plappermäulchen, musikalischer Scherz, op. 245
Gedenke mein, Schnell-Polka, op. 38
Bonustracks
Hans Höfer : Coburger Strauss-Fieber, Schnellpolka
Highlights Vol. 4 "Dorfschwalben" (hera 02004)
Josef Strauss 1827-1870

Dorfschwalben aus Österreich, Walzer op. 164
Johann Strauss (Sohn) 1825-1899

Auf der Jagd, Polka schnell op. 373
Annen-Polka, Polka française op. 117
Das Spitzentuch der Königin, Ouvertüre
Der Carneval in Rom, Ouvertüre
Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Polka schnell op. 214
G'schichten aus dem Wienerwald« Walzer op. 325
Joseph Lanner 1801-1843

Die Schönbrunner, Walzer op. 200
Johann Strauss (Vater) 1804-1849

Loreley-Rhein-Klänge, Walzer op. 154
Strauss "Jubiläumskonzert" (hera 02005)
Livemitschnitt des Jubiläumskonzerts anlässlich des 25 jährigen Bestehens des Alt-Wiener Strauss-Ensembles Stuttgart
Johann Strauss (Sohn) 1825-1899

Ouvertüre zu "Eine Nacht in Venedig".
Arie der Annina "Was mir der Zufall gab" aus "Eine Nacht in Venedig".
Leichtes Blut, Polka schnell, op. 319
Tausend und eine Nacht, Walzer, op. 346
Ouvertüre zu "Der Zigeunerbaron"
Arie der Saffi "So elend und so treu" aus "Der Zigeunerbaron"
Auftrittslied der Gräfin "Grüß dich Gott mein liebes Nesterl" aus "Wiener Blut"
"Wo die Citronen blüh'n", Walzer, op. 364
"Mein Herr Marquis" aus "Die Fledermaus".
Johann Strauss (Vater) 1804-1849

Piefke und Pufke-Polka , op. 235
Josef Strauss 1827-1870

Jokey-Polka , Polka schnell, op. 278
Eduard Strauss 1835-1916

Columbine, Polka mazur, op. 89
Auf und davon, Polka schnell, op. 73
Franz Schubert

Fünf Ecossaisen / Grätzer Galopp
Franz Lehár

"Meine Lippen, die küssen so heiß" aus "Giuditta"
Johannes Brahms

Ungarischer Tanz Nr. 3


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