For the medical students’ ball in the Carnival season of 1868, which was held in the Sofien-Saal in Vienna, Josef Strauss had composed a new waltz with the title Sphärenklänge, ‘respectfully dedicated to the gentlemen students of medicine at the University of Vienna’; as can be read on the title page of the piano edition, which was brought out by the Viennese music publisher Carl Anton Spina. The new composition — played by the Strauss Orchestra after midnight — was ‘particularly well received’ by the ball guests. On the other hand, the next day the reporter for the Fremden-Blatt newspaper grumbled disapprovingly, ‘The melodies of this waltz were better than its title, since it makes a rather strange impression when at the medical students’ ball, of all places, one is reminded musically of “the other world”.’ The basis of this critical remark is the ancient notion, already formulated by the Greek philosopher, mathematician and scientist Pythagoras, that as the heavenly bodies move in space sounds are produced (the music of the spheres), which, however, cannot be heard by mortals.
Music of the Spheres / Waltz © by Kulturverein Wiener Blut
Saturday, 12. March 200519.30 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Concert at the Musikverein Vienna
Martin Sieghart conductor
Program Ludwig van Beethoven : Twelfe Contredances for Orchestra Franz Schubert : "Kupelwieser-Walzer" für Klavier, D Anh. I, 14; instrumentiert von Gottfried von Einem Johann Strauss I : Cachucha-Galopp op. 97 Josef Strauss : From Afar / Polka mazurka op. 270 Josef Strauss : Music of the Spheres / Waltz op. 235 Josef Strauss : Forward! / Quick Polka op. 127 Break Johann Strauss II : Overture to the operetta "The Gypsy Baron" Johann Strauss II : Greetings from Austria / Polka mazurka op. 359 Johann Strauss II : Eljen A Magyar! « Long Live the Magyar!» / Quick polka op. 332 Johann Strauss II : Roses from the South / Waltz op. 388 Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : Excursion Train / Quick polka op. 281 Johann Strauss II : Emperor Waltz op. 437 Encore Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
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