Die Gazelle, Polka Mazurka, Op. 155 - Josef Strauss
"The Gazelle". At the 1864 carnival revue, held on 14 February in the Volksgarten, the Strauss brothers—Johann, Josef and Eduard—repeated their compositions played for the first time during that year’s carnival season: these included two waltzes by Johann Strauss, following his recovery from an illness at the beginning of 1863, as well as four of his polkas; Josef Strauss presented four waltzes and three polkas. In addition, two works were premièred at this concert: the Herold-Quadrille, (Herold Quadrille) Op. 157, and finally the polka-mazurka Die Gazelle. Eduard contributed two carnival compositions and also premièred the Maskentreiben polka, which did not appear in print.
At this concert, the most applauded works were the waltz masterpiece Morgenblatter (Morning Journals) Op. 279; the rousing quick polka Vergnigungszug (Pleasure Train), Op. 281, by Johann, and the lively Rudolfsheimer-Polka, Op. 152, by Josef Strauss. However, Josef Strauss was also very satisfied with the warm reception given to his unusual polka-mazurka Die Gazelle. It was not the speed of the African animal, known in Europe only in zoos, that inspired the composer, but its ability to leap. Josef Strauss in fact succeeded in imitating the leaps of a gazelle in all four sections of the composition. The polka-mazurka appeared in print in March 1864. All reference to the gazelle’s homeland, i.e., Africa, was absent from the title page of the piano score. The time of the great expeditions to this continent had not yet arrived.
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Picture: Grant's Gazelle
Artist: Friedrich Wilhelm Kuhnert
Sheet music DL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dy_5BSeeMPx17WhZTV6IqVGeu4oCFLKi/view?usp=sharing
Berliner Symphoniker
Robert Stolz
At this concert, the most applauded works were the waltz masterpiece Morgenblatter (Morning Journals) Op. 279; the rousing quick polka Vergnigungszug (Pleasure Train), Op. 281, by Johann, and the lively Rudolfsheimer-Polka, Op. 152, by Josef Strauss. However, Josef Strauss was also very satisfied with the warm reception given to his unusual polka-mazurka Die Gazelle. It was not the speed of the African animal, known in Europe only in zoos, that inspired the composer, but its ability to leap. Josef Strauss in fact succeeded in imitating the leaps of a gazelle in all four sections of the composition. The polka-mazurka appeared in print in March 1864. All reference to the gazelle’s homeland, i.e., Africa, was absent from the title page of the piano score. The time of the great expeditions to this continent had not yet arrived.
Don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment, that would be helpful to improve my channel. Thank you!
Picture: Grant's Gazelle
Artist: Friedrich Wilhelm Kuhnert
Sheet music DL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dy_5BSeeMPx17WhZTV6IqVGeu4oCFLKi/view?usp=sharing
Berliner Symphoniker
Robert Stolz