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01.On the beautiful blue Danube - Waltz Op 134 02.Roses From The South - Waltz Op 388 03.Wine, Women and Song - Waltz Op 333 04.Kaiser - Waltz Op 437 05.Vienna Blood - Waltz Op 354 |
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"Johann's music is as popular today as it was back then. Johann Jr. will always be known as The Waltz King, and will live forever in the music world."
The waltz (from the German word walzen, which means "to revolve") describes a graceful, romantic couple dance in 3/4 time. The first of the three beats of waltz rhythm (both in music and in dance) has a strong impulse; it is followed by two lighter beats (or steps), the second of these an upbeat "pushing" into the new first beat (... three ONE two three ONE two ...). Developed in central Europe, the waltz, with its fast whirling of partners held as if in an embrace, shocked polite society when it was first introduced about 1800. It became the outstanding ballroom dance of the 19th century.
Johann Strauss, Jr. was born October 25, 1825 the first of five children. A number of great composers encountered parental opposition when they decided to undertake a musical career, but none met more than Johann Jr. His father, Johann Sr., who had already established a reputation as "Father of the Waltz", had decided that one musician in the family was enough and went to great lengths to keep his sons from following in his footsteps. Ironically, all three, Johann Jr., Josef (1827-1870) and Eduard (1835-1916) achieved success as musicians.
http://www.maurice-abravanel.com/strauss_johan_english.html