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
Wednesday, 26. October 201111.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Konzert zum Nationalfeiertag
Johannes Wildner conductor
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Eduard Strauss I : Hektograph / Polka schnell op. 186 Josef Strauss : Ardent Love / Polka mazurka op. 129 Josef Strauss : Delirien / Waltz op. 212 Johann Strauss II : Chit-Chat Polka op. 214 Johann Strauss II : Thunder and Lightning / Quick polka op. 324 Break Johann Strauss II : Light of Heart / Quick polka op. 319 Johann Strauss II : Anna Polka op. 117 Josef Strauss : Music of the Spheres / Waltz op. 235 Johann Strauss II : Csárdás from the opera «Knight Pásmán» op. 441 Johann Strauss II : New Pizzicato Polka, from the Operetta «Fürstin Ninetta» op. 449 Eduard Strauss I : Clear the Track! / Quick polka op. 45 Johann Strauss II : The Blue Danube / Waltz op. 314 Encore Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
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