Concert in Berlin

Johann Strauss II
Express Polka / Polka schnell
op. 311 (1866)

Alongside the waltz Feen-Märchen and the Wildfeuer / Polka française, the mercurial Express-Polka schnell belongs to a group of three compositions by the Waltz King which all received their first performances on the same day. The event that launched the three works was advertised as a "Novelty Concert for the benefit of Josef and Eduard Strauss, with the participation of Johann Strauss (Director of Music for the Imperial-Royal Court Balls)", and took place in the Vienna Volksgarten on 18 November 1866. Nor were the novelties presented that afternoon restricted to Johann Strauss alone, for the event saw the premières of dances by his two brothers: Josef's Friedenspalmen Walzer (op. 207) and Etiquette-Polka française (op. 208) and Eduard's Colibri-Polka française (op. 21 ). The outpouring of such a flood of artistic inspiration was a precursor to the creativity with which the Strauss brothers, especially Johann and Josef, would strew the Vienna Carnival celebrations of 1867, and further demonstrates the remarkable way in which this family of musicians determined to banish the gloom and despair which prevailed following the Danube monarchy's defeat by the kingdom of Russia during summer 1866.

The piano edition of Johann's Express-Polka was issued on 18 November, the actual day of the work's première, while Josef's two contributions had already been published at the end of October. On 21 November 1866 a paragraph in the Fremdenblatt newspaper read: "Several novelties have appeared in C.A. Spina's publishing house, namely: 'Express'-Polka by Johann Strauss, 'Etiquette' Polka and 'Friedenspalmen' by Josef Strauss.
At their first performance last Sunday in the Volksgarten, the new dance pieces met with uproarious applause on the part of a numerous public". Indeed, such was the success of this benefit concert that the Strauss brothers repeated all six new compositions at their Volksgarten concert on the following Sunday, 25 November. Moreover, Johann's Express and Wildfeuer polkas joined Josef's Friedenspalmen Walzer and Eduard's Colibri-Polka on the programme of dances played at the Citizens' Ball in Schwender's 'Colosseum' on 22 January of the following year.

Johann Strauss II. Express Polka / Polka schnell op. 311 (1866)
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