As the first of a couple of holiday treats (for me!) I have orchestrated this early Johann Strauss II waltz for which the original orchestral material does not appear to have survived.

There is a version in the complete edition. I did not listen to it before doing this but I have now. In my opinion it is too slow. It doesn’t make me even think of dancing. Someone else shares my opinion as there is a speeded up version on Youtube. It also doesn’t sound like an 1840’s waltz to my ears but of course the arranger might not have been trying to that.

Since I did my last early Strauss waltz I have received better information about the composition of the early Strauss orchestra. It would appear to be the same as Lanner’s of the mid 1830’s but with fewer strings. It has the Lanner four trumpets (two doubling horns). I have used this orchestra to get the right sound palette. I may have overdone the Lanner trumpets in a coupe of places. Sorry! I have kept the speed up too. It’s a completely different waltz when played like this.

The piano score is a bit short on dynamic markings. I have kept to what it says unless it is complete nonsense with the exception of the start of the Finale where I have included a crescendo that isn’t in the score. It just about works without it but it sounded a bit odd.

It’s obviously not a mature waltz but it is very good. Significantly, if it doesn’t sound like mature Strauss, it also doesn’t sound like his father or Lanner. There are occasional fingerprints, if you look for them. For example, the three bar chord progression introducing waltz five reappears frequently throughout his career, including in the Blue Danube.

A totally unnecessary late Lanner arrangement is coming up next just because I like it. My recording is worn out (yes it’s round and black with a hole in the middle) and I don’t have a score.