Music Overview
The Story of the Vienna Woods Waltz, Op. 325 (G'schichten aus dem Wienerwald, Walzer op. 325) is the successor to the Waltz "Walzer" by Johann Strauss the Younger. Another masterpiece after "The Blue Danube". Completed in 1868, it premiered in Vienna on June 19 of the same year and was conducted by the author himself.
Background of the work
There is a beautiful forest on the outskirts of Vienna, the capital of Austria. It is not far from the city and has always attracted thousands of tourists. This forest was also a place frequented by many great composers living in Vienna, and the beauty of the forest often inspired them. Johann Strauss Jr. was an authentic Viennese, and "The Story of the Vienna Woods" was his hymn dedicated to his hometown.
Music Appreciation
This piece of music consists of an overture, five waltzes and an ending. Its structure is a typical Viennese waltz form. The music begins with a long overture. The melodies of the two horns depict beautiful and moving scenery, and the oboe and clarinet blow out lyrical and smooth tunes, like the pastoral songs of shepherds and horn flutes. The ringing of the bell adds a lot of brilliance to the music. Then, the cello slowly played the theme of the First Waltz as the introduction to the whole piece. The rich tone of the cello, the beautiful pastoral of the French horn and the exquisite decorative syllables of the flute constitute a wonderful and colorful sound painting, which is very elegant and moving. The addition of the zither adds a strong Austrian national color. This characteristic instrument plays the most important melody in this waltz, soft and gorgeous, as if the morning sun shines through the thick fog into the Vienna Woods, accompanied by To the gentle chirping of the birds.
The first waltz is in the key of F major, depicting the beautiful scenery of the forest in the morning and the scene of people singing and dancing.
The Second Waltz is in B flat major and is played by the cello. This main melody is almost identical to the theme played by the guitar in the previous prelude, but the rhythm is much faster and highly danceable.
The third waltz is in the key of E-flat major and is a trilogy. The depiction is still of forest beauty.
The Fourth Waltz is in the key of B flat major, in two-part form. The first half is brisk and smooth, and the melody is full of leaps and bounds; the second half is lively, elegant, and the accompaniment is fascinating.
The Fifth Waltz is in the key of E flat major. This part is not only lively, but also very rhythmic, bringing the whole music to its climax.
The ending of the music is very long, where the themes of the Fourth Waltz, the First Waltz and the Second Waltz appear in sequence; after that, the moving zither melody in the prelude reappears; the ending part A band ensemble was used.
All this seems to be a summary, leading people to review the various beautiful scenery of the Vienna Woods again