Farewell to America
Encyclopedia
Farewell to America is the name of a waltz
composed by Johann Strauss II
. In the immediate wake of the composer's visit to the United States
in the summer of 1872, when he conducted several times in Boston
and New York
, no less than seven publishers issued waltzes supposedly composed by Strauss. Only two from the total of nine compositions that were published are known to have been performed by Strauss during his tour of the United States: the Jubilee Waltz and the Manhattan Waltzes. It is unknown whether or not the other compositions that were published were written by Strauss in while he was in America, completed by him after his return to Vienna
and sent through the mail, or that some of the publications had nothing to do with Strauss himself, but were compiled by publishers anxious to benefit from Strauss' American tour and the clamour for new Strauss music.
Unlike its companion waltz, the Greeting to America, Farewell to America is a potpourri
of melodies previously written by Johann Strauss, including:
(The waltz also has a quotation from The Star Spangled Banner.)
The presence of a melody by Josef Strauss, found in Waltz 4B, suggests that Farewell to America was perhaps compiled not by Strauss himself, but by a house arranger for the publisher, Oliver Ditson.
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
composed by Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
. In the immediate wake of the composer's visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the summer of 1872, when he conducted several times in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, no less than seven publishers issued waltzes supposedly composed by Strauss. Only two from the total of nine compositions that were published are known to have been performed by Strauss during his tour of the United States: the Jubilee Waltz and the Manhattan Waltzes. It is unknown whether or not the other compositions that were published were written by Strauss in while he was in America, completed by him after his return to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and sent through the mail, or that some of the publications had nothing to do with Strauss himself, but were compiled by publishers anxious to benefit from Strauss' American tour and the clamour for new Strauss music.
Unlike its companion waltz, the Greeting to America, Farewell to America is a potpourri
Potpourri (music)
Potpourri or Pot-Pourri is a kind of musical form structured as ABCDEF..., the same as medley or, sometimes, fantasia. It is often used in light, easy-going and popular types of music....
of melodies previously written by Johann Strauss, including:
- Introduction -- Introduction to KarnevalsbotschafterKarnevalsbotschafterKarnevalsbotschafter op. 270 is a waltz composed by Johann Strauss II in the autumn of 1862. Incidentally, it was also written during Strauss' honeymoon with his first wife Henrietta Treffz in Venice...
op. 270 - Waltz 1A — theme 1A from Wiener Punschlieder op. 131
- Waltz 1B — theme 1B from Spiralen op. 209
- Waltz 2A — theme 2B from Gedankenflug op. 215
- Waltz 2B — theme 2B from Gedankenflug op. 215
- Waltz 3A — theme 1A from Controversen op. 191
- Waltz 3B — theme 4B from Controversen op. 191
- Waltz 4A — theme 5A from PromotionenPromotionenPromotionen , Op. 221, is the name of a waltz composed by Johann Strauss II. It was dedicated to the law students at the Vienna University, and was first performed under the title of Die Präparanden, a term referring to students who are preparing for their final examinations...
op. 221 - Waltz 4B — theme 2B from Petitionen op. 153 (composed by Josef StraussJosef StraussJosef Strauss was an Austrian composer.He was born in Vienna, the son of Johann Strauss I and Maria Anna Streim, and brother of Johann Strauss II and Eduard Strauss. His father wanted him to choose a career in the Austrian Habsburg military...
) - Coda — 15 bars from Coda of Feuilleton op. 293
(The waltz also has a quotation from The Star Spangled Banner.)
The presence of a melody by Josef Strauss, found in Waltz 4B, suggests that Farewell to America was perhaps compiled not by Strauss himself, but by a house arranger for the publisher, Oliver Ditson.