Wo die Zitronen blühen
Encyclopedia
This article is about the waltz. For the Goethe poem (Mignon's song, "Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn?"), see Goethe#Key works for background information, or http://www.acampitelli.com/goethe_kennst_du_das_land.htm for the text.
Wo die Zitronen blühen (Where the Lemons Blossom or, Where the Citrons Bloom), op. 364 is a waltz
by Johann Strauss II
written in 1874. The waltz was composed during a tour of the composer in Italy
where he travelled with the Langenbach Orchestra of Germany
and performed the work at the Teatro Regio in Turin
on 9 May 1874.
The waltz came after a successful premiere of his famous operetta
Die Fledermaus
and Strauss originally entitled the waltz as 'Bella Italia' (Beautiful Italy) for his Italian audiences before renaming it 'Wo die Zitronen blühen' after a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
's novel 'Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre' — 'Kennst du das Land wo die Zitronen blühen?' ('Do you know the land where the lemons blossom?').
Strauss waltz (as is most of his waltzes dating around this time) follows the structure of an Introduction followed by three two-part waltz sections and a coda
instead of his earlier five two-part sections. This structure was to feature in most of his later waltzes although he did not set it as a definite and permanent structure.
The work began in a tranquil fashion in G major, with a reflective solo violin
melody pervading most of the Introduction. A series of loud chords brought in the gentle first waltz section. The second section is more animated with a beautiful 2nd part in D major. The wistful nature of the waltz is further expanded in the equally docile 3rd section. A furious coda recalls earlier melodies and the first waltz section gracefully makes another entry. Nearing the end of the peaceful work, the Introduction's solo violin melody serenades the final few bars before the waltz rises to a forte and ends on a brilliant note, underlined with a timpani
drumroll.
Wo die Zitronen blühen (Where the Lemons Blossom or, Where the Citrons Bloom), op. 364 is a 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...
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...
written in 1874. The waltz was composed during a tour of the composer in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where he travelled with the Langenbach Orchestra of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and performed the work at the Teatro Regio in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
on 9 May 1874.
The waltz came after a successful premiere of his famous operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
and Strauss originally entitled the waltz as 'Bella Italia' (Beautiful Italy) for his Italian audiences before renaming it 'Wo die Zitronen blühen' after a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
's novel 'Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre' — 'Kennst du das Land wo die Zitronen blühen?' ('Do you know the land where the lemons blossom?').
Strauss waltz (as is most of his waltzes dating around this time) follows the structure of an Introduction followed by three two-part waltz sections and a coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
instead of his earlier five two-part sections. This structure was to feature in most of his later waltzes although he did not set it as a definite and permanent structure.
The work began in a tranquil fashion in G major, with a reflective solo violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
melody pervading most of the Introduction. A series of loud chords brought in the gentle first waltz section. The second section is more animated with a beautiful 2nd part in D major. The wistful nature of the waltz is further expanded in the equally docile 3rd section. A furious coda recalls earlier melodies and the first waltz section gracefully makes another entry. Nearing the end of the peaceful work, the Introduction's solo violin melody serenades the final few bars before the waltz rises to a forte and ends on a brilliant note, underlined with a timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
drumroll.