Hesperus-Ball-Tänze, Walzer, Op. 116 - Josef Strauss

"Hesperus Ball Dances". For the Carnival festivities of the "Hesperus" artists’ society, of which all three Strauss brothers were members, a ball dedication piece was due every year. This was contributed, of course, by a member of the Strauss family (later, by all three brothers). In 1862, it was Josef’s turn. He wrote a waltz for the "Hesperus" ball which took place on 26th February 1862 in the Dianasaal. He did not make any creative effort in naming the work, simply writing on top of the score Hesperus-Ball-Tänze and adding the dedication: "To the Hesperus artists’ society." In March 1862, the work appeared in print under this title and dedication at Carl Haslinger’s. The Hesperus-Ball-Tänze did not last long, however, in the programmes of the Strauss orchestra. Later masterworks, which had also been composed for the Carnival festivities of the Hesperus society (among them, the waltz Künstlerleben, Op. 316, by Johann Strauss), relegated Josef’s lovely work to the archives. The printed orchestral parts have as yet not been found, and had to be reproduced from scratch from the original dies.

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Painting: Ball Society
Artist: Anton Hermann Kowalsky

Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Kosice
Michael Dittrich