Phänomene op. 193 - Johann Strauss II

Rarely is the imaginative artwork adorning much 19th-century piano music put to such dramtic effect as that in W. Tatzelt's title page illustration for Johann Strauss's waltz Phänomeme (Phenomena). The sepia lithograph depicts the awesome spectacle of various natural phenomena: a comet, thunderstorm and fork lightning, a volcanic eruption and a waterspout at sea.
Strauss dedicated this waltz to the technical students at Vienna University, and first conducted it on the technical students at Vienna University, and first conducted it on the occasion of their ball in the Sofienband-Saal on 17 February 1857. The choice of title was not lost on the students: a comet of uncommon brilliance had last been observed in 1843, while Vesuvius had displayed volcanic activity as recently as May 1855. Phänomene belongs to that series of waltzes which reflect the composer's fascination for the avant-garde orchestrations and harmonic styles of Berlioz and Wagner. Moreover, it is apparent that the waltz was played at its première without Introduction and Coda, thus as a pure dance number. Later it became usual at such balls for new repeated did the couples dance to them. In the case of Phänomeme, not until May of that year, during his concert season in Pavlovsk, did Johan score the Introduction and Coda prior to the works's Vienna publication.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Phänomene
• op.193
• johann
• strauss
• wiener
• walzer
• waltz
• valzer
• valse
• phenomena
• vienna
• classical