Thursday, February 19, 2015

Emperor Waltz



I have no knowledge as to whether the waltz as we know it through the past one and a half centuries existed before, even if with another name, or was entirely the creation of Johann Strauss, which was enhanced by many of his family members, and many other composers too. But from an early age I became inseparable from the waltz of the Blue Danube, as it was, or as it got vastly enhanced by Stanley Kubrick in his opus, 2001: A Space Odyssey, conducted by no less than Herbert von Karajan, who has been arguably considered the best conductor of all.

As I took this picture, however, the tune that would not leave my brain was the Emperor Waltz, also by Johann Strauss, and hence I have taken the liberty of titling it so. Seeking both understanding and approval. Outright praise would not be unwelcome. Thanks.

Kaiser-Walzer, Op. 437 (Emperor Waltz) is a waltz composed byJohann Strauss II in 1889. The waltz was originally titled Hand in Handand was intended as a toast made in August of that year by Austrianemperor Franz Josef on the occasion of his visit to the German KaiserWilhelm II where it was symbolic as a 'toast of friendship' extended by Austria to Germany.
Strauss' publisher, Fritz Simrock, suggested the title Kaiser-Walzer since the title could allude to either monarch, and thus satisfy the vanity of both rulers. The waltz was first performed in Berlin on 21 October 1889. The original cover of the piano edition bore the illustration of the AustrianImperial Crown... (see more)





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Anonymous wrote:

So i offer understanding, approval and outright praise.
But i must mention that my offer is not merely in response to your seeking it. i totally understand the allusion and the connection and approve of it. And i extend outright praise for the awesome composition. It could not have been easy to keep a steady hand at the angle needed for this view. 
Outright praise also for the synchronicity of title and image.

The grandeur is undeniable and so is the impression of slow smooth motion that the combination of dim lit and dark backdrop is creating. Emperor Waltz is what it is.
Thank you for elaborating it in the accompanying text.

Charu wrote:

I laud the photographer, the composer, the conductor and the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra. The cellist, the flutist and the harpist did a fantastic job in last two minutes of this concert. 
All mentioned above are masters in their respective craft. Who am I to pass a judgment? Approval is not mine to give. 
I heard the glorious piece. I enjoyed it well. I know not the nuances of music. I cannot separate sharp from flat or crescendos from diminuendos. But I know this I swayed with the music. While entirely inept at dancing I would have learnt Ballroom dancing if not for any other reason than the glamour and romance of Waltz, music as well as the dance. 

The beautiful picture of decorative lighting on the ceiling is reminiscent of a hovering spacecraft in the 2001 Space Odyssey which reminds one of the waltzing music of Blue Danube which leads one to think of Emperor Waltz, thus the association.

My reply:

The 'spaceship' in my picture conveys a strong impression of rotational movement. It extends one's imagination to the romance within the assured safety of the spacecraft. Thus, Strauss's Blue Danube and/or Emperor Waltz inevitably instill in our limbs  the rhythm, romance and lingering yearning for space.

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