Künstlerleben
Encyclopedia
Künstlerleben op. 316 is a waltz
written by Johann Strauss II
in 1867, following closely on the success of the popular The Blue Danube
waltz
. Austria
was severely shaken the previous year 1866 by the crushing defeat that the Austrian
army suffered in the Battle of Königgrätz
and many of the year's festivities and balls were cancelled as the prevalent depressing mood affected most of Vienna
's populace.
Strauss' near impossible task of inspiring the same joie de vivre into the Vienna Carnival Fasching of 1867 was met with great aplomb by all three Strauss brothers as their works displayed no signs of dying inspiration, and in turn introducing to the Viennese how their creative spirit defied the troubled spirit of the times.
Johann Strauss II
and Josef Strauss
both presented sparkling new works at the 'Hesperus' Ball which was held at the Dianabad-Saal on 18 February 1867, with the 'Artists Life' waltz presented just three nights after the successful performance of The Blue Danube
at the same venue. The 'Hesperus' Association known as the Vienna Artists' Association was a well-known and influential society of which all three Strauss brothers were members.
The new waltz was quickly heralded as a new 'twin' of the 'Blue Danube' and its popularity has since been retained in the classical music repertoire. The composer's best inspiration can be seen in the Introduction of the waltz, which began with a plaintive horn solo and a quietly dramatic string passage in A minor. A pensive waltz melody in A major was introduced, before being cut short by two loud and fierce chords. The first waltz section was then played, with a high-spirited tune and a robust accompanying waltz passage. The second waltz section was a melancholic tune in two parts, with the same dramatic chords as heard in the Introduction before a more upbeat tune heralds the entry of the happier third section. The plaintive mood of the waltz continued in the fifth section before the minor-sounding Coda (tail-piece) was brought in. The first waltz melody makes another quiet entrance before the waltz was brought to its triumphant close, with a strong chord and flourish, underlined by a snare-drumroll.
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...
written 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 1867, following closely on the success of the popular The Blue Danube
The Blue Danube
The Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 , a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866...
waltz
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...
. Austria
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
was severely shaken the previous year 1866 by the crushing defeat that the Austrian
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
army suffered in the Battle of Königgrätz
Battle of Königgrätz
The Battle of Königgrätz , also known as the Battle of Sadowa, Sadová, or Hradec Králové, was the decisive battle of the Austro-Prussian War, in which the Kingdom of Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire...
and many of the year's festivities and balls were cancelled as the prevalent depressing mood affected most of 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...
's populace.
Strauss' near impossible task of inspiring the same joie de vivre into the Vienna Carnival Fasching of 1867 was met with great aplomb by all three Strauss brothers as their works displayed no signs of dying inspiration, and in turn introducing to the Viennese how their creative spirit defied the troubled spirit of the times.
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...
and Josef Strauss
Josef Strauss
Josef 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...
both presented sparkling new works at the 'Hesperus' Ball which was held at the Dianabad-Saal on 18 February 1867, with the 'Artists Life' waltz presented just three nights after the successful performance of The Blue Danube
The Blue Danube
The Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 , a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866...
at the same venue. The 'Hesperus' Association known as the Vienna Artists' Association was a well-known and influential society of which all three Strauss brothers were members.
The new waltz was quickly heralded as a new 'twin' of the 'Blue Danube' and its popularity has since been retained in the classical music repertoire. The composer's best inspiration can be seen in the Introduction of the waltz, which began with a plaintive horn solo and a quietly dramatic string passage in A minor. A pensive waltz melody in A major was introduced, before being cut short by two loud and fierce chords. The first waltz section was then played, with a high-spirited tune and a robust accompanying waltz passage. The second waltz section was a melancholic tune in two parts, with the same dramatic chords as heard in the Introduction before a more upbeat tune heralds the entry of the happier third section. The plaintive mood of the waltz continued in the fifth section before the minor-sounding Coda (tail-piece) was brought in. The first waltz melody makes another quiet entrance before the waltz was brought to its triumphant close, with a strong chord and flourish, underlined by a snare-drumroll.