Johann Strauss II: Works

Rosen aus dem Süden (Roses From the South), Opus 388, is a waltz medley composed by Johann Strauss II in 1880. Its themes are from his operetta Das Spitzentuch der Königin (The Queen's Lace Handkerchief). The piece is regularly performed at the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert and was used in the Star Trek episode The Squire of Gothos. Rosen aus dem Süden is also used in the Dancing with the Stars videogame for PlayStation 2, in the 1927 silent movie Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, and in the 1982 movie Sophie's Choice.

Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (Tales from the Vienna Woods), Opus 325, is a popular Viennese waltz composed by Johann Strauss II in 1868. It features a virtuoso part for zither, which is a musical instrument consisting of many strings stretched across a thin, flat body. The sound of the zither is generally associated with rural Austria and Southern Germany, and with folk music performed at country inns and homes. Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald inspired Ödön von Horváth's 1931 award-winning play with the same name and several movie adaptations of the play.

The Austrian composer Johann Strauss II (1825 - 1899) wrote more than five hundred waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. He was known as "The Waltz King". Two museums in Vienna are dedicated to Johann Strauss II. His father, the composer Johann Strauss I, together with the composer Joseph Lanner (1801 - 1843), popularized the waltz. Johann Strauss II often played his father's works and openly declared his admiration of them, although it was no secret to the Viennese that their rivalry was intense.

Tutorials

Sheetmusic

  • Tales from the Vienna Woods

Jane has made several tutorials from this wonderful book, she purchased a used copy on amazon.com for $3.99!