

Johann Strauss II
Sonnenblume, Polka Mazur, Op. 459
Arr. CPE Strauss

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.