Johann Strauss Jr. Josef Strauss: Sport Polka Op.170: Orchestra: Parts

Track Clear ~ Laisser passez !-Eduard Strauss the third son of Johann Strauss the Elder was born on March 15 1835 in Vienna. Originally Eduard looked for employment in the diplomatic service but he also studied music theory. He became a harpist in the Strauss orchestra in 1855. In 1862 he joined his two famous brothers Johann Jr. and Josef as a conductor of the family orchestra. Like that of his two brothers his musical output was prolific: he wrote over 320 separate dances and marches. Apart from the exuberant Bahn Frei (Track Clear) which he wrote in 1869 and a handful of other fast polkas (he excelled in this particular dance form) his music is not as well known as that of his brothers.

Emperor Waltz-Everybody loves a Strauss waltz and they can beguaranteed to put a smile on the face of the audienceduring a concert. This waltz was composed in1888 by Johann Strauss Jr. and many peopleconsider it to be his best composition - evenrivalling The Blue Danube.The Kaiser-Walzer has a quiet rather melancholicopening entirely in character with the personalityof the calm and dignified monarch Franz-Josef towhom it was dedicated. It is full of playful motifsand refined surprises and the lilting melody is sureto make everyone want to get up and dance.

Originally this work was written for string players and the title says it all: the strings were played pizzicato i.e. plucked with the fingers. You can imitate the effect of the â??short notesâ?? on the recorder perfectly well.This airy and humorous polka requires a playful performance: experimenting with the tempo is the motto. When it comes to playing together Pizzicato Polka is not always easy: additional evidence of the quality of the Viennese orchestras of the day. For ensembles that do not have a bass recorder at their disposal an alternative part for tenor recorder has also been provided. A performance with five recorders is possible as well using this extra partto reinforce the bass melody. Johann Strauss II wrote the famous Pizzicato Polka together with his brother Josef.

Viennese music has become almost synonymous with Johann Strauss II and his great waltzes. But of course there were other luminaries: his father Johann Strauss I his talented brothers Josef and Eduard as well as their colleagues friends and rivals. This collection includes music by some of these; and apart from waltzes we have polkas (slow and fast) a couple of melodies from operettas and a march. The selection ranges from shorter eminently playable miniatures to a handful of more extended and challenging arrangements. The waltz kings were first and foremost fiddlers. They led their orchestras from the front instrument and bow in hand. As a young man JohannStrauss II used to practise his Violin in a full-length mirror so he would look every inch the part. They knew how to write for the Violin how to make it sing and dance and this helps to make the repertoire a perfect foil to the other volumes in this series. The arrangements in this collection can be performed as solos duets or trios or by larger ensembles. In fact here are all the resources to recreate a Viennese café orchestra! The full range of traditional fiddle repertoire is now at your fingertips! Using these generous collections you can create your own ceilidh barn dance jazz club Sarajevo street-café or Gypsy gathering. Some of this music is familiar some more exotic but all of it is absolutely authentic faithfully arranged and above all hugely enjoyable. Each title in the series is available in two formats: the Violin edition (with an optional easy Violin part and Guitar chords); or the complete edition which also includes both Keyboard and Violin accompaniments. Either format is hugely flexible which means the music can be played as solos duets or trios as well as with larger ensembles. Edward Huws Jones has travelled extensively researching fiddle-playing traditions. In each book he explains the background of the particular musical style giving his own suggestions for a lively performance. And to help recreate the spirit of the music every book in the series is beautifully illustrated.