!!!Donauwalzer

Blue Danube Waltz (op. 314) by Johann  Strauss the Younger, written as 
a choir waltz for a carnival meeting of the  "Wiener 
Maennergesang-Verein" male choir, sung for the first time in the 
Dianasaal hall in Vienna on February 15, 1867. The original words by 
J. Weyl "Wiener seid froh! Oho! Wieso?" (Viennese - be happy! - Happy? 
But why?) were meant ironically at a time characterised by numerous 
military defeats; the words were changed to "Donau, so blau ...", 
which in turn led to the title "An der schoenen blauen Donau" 
(literally: On The Beautiful Blue Danube), by F. von Gernerth in 
1890. It was, however, the instrumental version that became known all 
over the world; the performances of the Strauss orchestra in Paris on 
the occasion of the World Exposition played an important part in 
popularising of the piece; the Blue Danube waltz is considered to be 
Austria´s unofficial anthem.  Waltz


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