Die Ersten und Letzten, Walzer, Op. 1 - Josef Strauss (+ Sheet Music)

In December 1852, Johann Strauss collapsed immediately after his return from an exacting concert tour throughout Germany. Therefore, his mother, Anna Strauss, determined Josef Strauss (with 25 years old), should interrupt his career as an architect and join the family’s "waltz business," in order to relieve the ailing Johann. Josef was not happy about this decision, but he complied with his mother’s wishes. Before appearing for the first time at the helm of the Strauss orchestra as an "interim director" on 23rd July 1853, he wrote to his fiancée Caroline: "The inevitable happened, I play for the first time at ‘Sperl’s.’ I regret with all my heart that this has happened so suddenly....". The balls in Unger’s Casino on the occasion of the yearly Church festival in Hernals, would take place on 29th August 1853, the date was fast approaching, and Johann Strauss still had not composed the new waltz expected for this event. In order not to disappoint the organizer of the Ball and, as was to be expected, the very numerous audience, Josef wrote the traditional dedication, a waltz, in the style of a Ländler, but he gave the work the title The First and the Last. In other words, once and never again! Josef Strauss wanted to perform his composition only once, precisely at the Hernals festival on 29th August 1853, but the work was received with enthusiastic applause, and had to be repeated. During the following days.

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Painting: The End of the Ball
Artist: José García y Ramos

Sheet music DL (Descarga la partitura): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OxumyDsbkBmL-RTRFMIwdqPsfqkAS5Gx/view?usp=sharing

K & K Philharmoniker
Matthias Georg Kendlinger