Morgenblätter
Encyclopedia
Morgenblätter op. 279 is a waltz
composed by Johann Strauss II
in 1863. The work's genesis was attributed to the composition of another waltz by Jacques Offenbach
later titled 'Abendblätter' when the French
opera
composer
dedicated his work to the influential Vienna Authors' and Journalists' Association ('Concordia'). The Association had earlier intended the 'Abendblätter' waltz (untitled by Offenbach when first dedicated) to be played at their 'Concordia Ball' on 12 January 1864.
Strauss and his orchestra was engaged to provide music for the festivity and he was also obliged to dedicate a new composition of his own. Since he was clearly aware of Offenbach
's dedication, he similarly left it to the Association to decide the title of his own work. The committee, in a mood for a musical joust, titled Offenbach's work as 'Abendblätter' (Evening Papers) and Strauss' work as 'Morgenblätter' (Morning Papers). Friendly rivalry was top of their intentions though, as Strauss dutifully premiered Offenbach's work as well as his own because the latter was not present on the day in question. Despite many later fabrications that Strauss' work was initially ignored, first night press reviews do not proclaim in favor of either work although posterity seemed to pronounce in favor of Strauss' uplifting work with the 'Abendblätter' waltz being equally impressive.
'Morgenblätter' is another of Strauss' more inspired waltzes, during the time where the development of the waltz
has been rapid, with varying moods immortalised amongst the 5 two-part Sections. The quiet introduction
in the key of D major
begins the work, with repeated chords in the bass-line. A sharp series of loud chords interrupts the playful mood and a long clarinet
passage ushers in the first waltz theme in G major
. Waltz 1B (in D major) carries on the exuberant mood before a repeat of waltz 1A quickly proceeds to the tranquility of Waltz 2A in C major
. Waltz 3A and 3B (F major) is more robust and quicker than the previous sections whereas Waltz 4A in B flat major
is quiet and brooding. Waltz 4B erupts in joy for a brief section and proceeding to repeat waltz 4A. Waltz 5A is the climax of the work, in E-flat major and is punctuated with the brass instruments, particularly the trombone
s. A more peaceful-sounding waltz 5B is played but the brash 5A makes another appearance.
A tense coda
would be quickly replaced with a reprise of waltz 2A. A furious passage of chords brought in waltz 1A again before sweeping into a joyous conclusion complete with a snare drumroll and orchestral flourish.
Thomas Hardy
's poem " A Seaside Town in 1869 " suggests that the waltz was popular in England in the late 1860s.
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...
composed 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...
in 1863. The work's genesis was attributed to the composition of another waltz by Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
later titled 'Abendblätter' when the French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
dedicated his work to the influential Vienna Authors' and Journalists' Association ('Concordia'). The Association had earlier intended the 'Abendblätter' waltz (untitled by Offenbach when first dedicated) to be played at their 'Concordia Ball' on 12 January 1864.
Strauss and his orchestra was engaged to provide music for the festivity and he was also obliged to dedicate a new composition of his own. Since he was clearly aware of Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
's dedication, he similarly left it to the Association to decide the title of his own work. The committee, in a mood for a musical joust, titled Offenbach's work as 'Abendblätter' (Evening Papers) and Strauss' work as 'Morgenblätter' (Morning Papers). Friendly rivalry was top of their intentions though, as Strauss dutifully premiered Offenbach's work as well as his own because the latter was not present on the day in question. Despite many later fabrications that Strauss' work was initially ignored, first night press reviews do not proclaim in favor of either work although posterity seemed to pronounce in favor of Strauss' uplifting work with the 'Abendblätter' waltz being equally impressive.
'Morgenblätter' is another of Strauss' more inspired waltzes, during the time where the development of the 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...
has been rapid, with varying moods immortalised amongst the 5 two-part Sections. The quiet introduction
Introduction (music)
In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro...
in the key of D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
begins the work, with repeated chords in the bass-line. A sharp series of loud chords interrupts the playful mood and a long clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
passage ushers in the first waltz theme in G major
G major
G major is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp, F; in treble-clef key signatures, the sharp-symbol for F is usually placed on the first line from the top, though in some Baroque music it is placed on the first space from the bottom...
. Waltz 1B (in D major) carries on the exuberant mood before a repeat of waltz 1A quickly proceeds to the tranquility of Waltz 2A in C major
C major
C major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
. Waltz 3A and 3B (F major) is more robust and quicker than the previous sections whereas Waltz 4A in B flat major
B flat major
B major or B-flat major is a major scale based on B-flat, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats, B/E .Its relative minor is G minor, and its parallel minor is B minor....
is quiet and brooding. Waltz 4B erupts in joy for a brief section and proceeding to repeat waltz 4A. Waltz 5A is the climax of the work, in E-flat major and is punctuated with the brass instruments, particularly the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s. A more peaceful-sounding waltz 5B is played but the brash 5A makes another appearance.
A tense 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...
would be quickly replaced with a reprise of waltz 2A. A furious passage of chords brought in waltz 1A again before sweeping into a joyous conclusion complete with a snare drumroll and orchestral flourish.
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OM was an English novelist and poet. While his works typically belong to the Naturalism movement, several poems display elements of the previous Romantic and Enlightenment periods of literature, such as his fascination with the supernatural.While he regarded himself primarily as a...
's poem " A Seaside Town in 1869 " suggests that the waltz was popular in England in the late 1860s.
Recordings
- Michael Lanner with his orchestra. Recorded in BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on March 20, 1953. It was released by Electrola Records as catalog number EG 7897.