Do you hate to be a Musicophile? Then you must listen to the Viennese Waltz
The soul drenching Waltzes
The music is not in the notes, but in between the silence — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
First, please listen to the romantic waltz.
Check the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDaJ7rFg66A
André Rieu playing “The Beautiful Blue Danube” waltz and dancers are from the famous ‘Viennese Elmayer Dancing School’.
André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.
“The Beautiful Blue Danube” (An der schönen blauen Donau in German) was composed by legendary Viennese musician Johann Strauss II (1825–1899).
Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and everything — Plato
If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think of music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music -Albert Einstein
At the beginning of the 19th century during the Romantic era, artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movements originated in Europe and reached their peak during 1810–1870.
The word ball meaning dance originates from Latin ‘ballare’. A waltz is a piece of music with a rhythm of three beats performed by a couple, who turn rhythmically round and round as a pair on the dance floor. The word “waltz” comes from the German ‘Walzen’.
The dance was established in the 1830s by Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss I in Vienna, Austria. Since then the culture of waltz has been particularly associated with Vienna, although it is popular throughout Europe.
During the 1860s, with Johann Strauss II and Josef (sons of Strauss I), the waltz reached its peak as a symbol of an elegant dance style and musical composition.
Johann Strauss II composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet.
During the 17th century, nobles danced in ballrooms of the Habsburg court. By the mid of the 19th century dancing to the tune of waltz had been accepted by high-class society.
The gorgeous culture of waltz continues till today in Vienna. Every year from 2009 to 2019, Mercer’s Quality of Living survey has named Vienna as the best place to live in the entire world and is there any wonder?
Music is the universal language of mankind — Henry Longfellow
The Habsburg dynasty with Vienna as the official residence had patronised art, music, painting etc. They were emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria and Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of the monarchy in 1918 with the defeat in the First World War.
The emperors condescended several composers like Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss I, II whose waltzes captivated Europe were born in Vienna and Anton Bruckner, Antonio Salieri, Arnold Schoenberg, Franz Liszt, Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the list goes on; came to associate with Viennese music and work in Vienna.
Several music performances were/are held in Schönbrunn (meaning beautiful fountain) Palace which was the summer residence of Habsburgs and it is a World Heritage site. The 186-hectare area has a total of 1,441 rooms. This is one of Europe’s most beautiful Baroque complexes and was in the possession of the Habsburgs until 1918.
The romantic ball season traditionally starts in January and there are over 400 balls happening every winter in Vienna. Guests from all over the world arrive to listen to the performances by the most famous orchestras in the world, prominent dancers and opera singers.
Music touches us emotionally, words alone can’t.
The most glamorous balls take place in amazing historic locations of Vienna such as the Golden Hall (Musikverein), Hofburg Imperial Palace, State Opera and Wiener Konzerthaus and many more. Golden hall has a capacity of 1750 seats and 300 standing.
Guests arrive in pairs in elegant costumes. The common dress code for women is a full-length formal dress and opera-length gloves and gentlemen in a black tuxedo or a jacket, black trousers, black shoes, black bow tie and white wing-collar shirt.
After the inaugural of the ball and great performances, interested guests can join the dance floor ‘Alles Walzer’ means all can join the waltz. The master of the ceremony energises the guests to join the exciting dance floor.
Tickets are sold a year in advance for important balls.
The ball season in 2020 and 2021 had to be cancelled due to pandemics. World wide music lovers are looking forward to 2022.
Music is played in temples, churches, happy occasions etc. Music is spiritual, it’s devotional, binding, relaxing, peaceful, anti-depressing; Music has no language it is a universal language.
I conclude:
One who loves music loves life;
Thou knoweth musical beats. Play on…
In tune with this beautiful life, I remain in the dimensionless music. Tara Desai
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For the entrancing moments of life, listen to the waltz with your loved ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLj20fbYM8Q
by Jaime Alberto Maldonado and many more waltzes on the internet…
©Tara Desai