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Johann Strauss II
Sonnenblume, Polka Mazur, Op. 459
Arr. CPE Strauss
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My orchestration from the first edition piano score of this polka by Johann Strauss II based on themes from his operetta Jabuka.
As was his usual practice he arranged a set of dances but in this case did not orchestrate any of them apart from the waltz “Ich bin dir gut!”, Op. 455. I have read that this was because of contractual difficulties with his publisher or alternatively that there was not the demand as the operetta was not a success. For whatever reason, it leaves us with some unorchestrated late Strauss dances and I am working my way through them. There are other orchestrations and recordings, of varying quality to which I am adding my own arrangements … also of varying quality. I orchestrated the waltz too, as the only recordings I could find were a bit on the dull side. At some point I will find the full score by Strauss and transcribe that, although I’ll have to be very bored.
I think this is the pick of the bunch in terms of the dances. It is a very good polka mazurka although I think you have to keep the speed up to get the best out of it.