Dorfschwalben aus Österreich, Walzer, Op. 164 - Josef Strauss

"Village Swallows of Austria". In the summer of 1864 Josef Strauss had succeeded in finding an entrepreneur in Breslau who offered him a contract for October of 1864, following the steps of his brother Johann of enjoying triumphs far from Vienna. This inspired Josef that by September 1864 he was able to offer several works which again revealed the complexity of his talent. Topping the list was the waltz Dorfschwalben aus Österreich. This waltz is the result of Josef's inspiration by reading the novel "Dorfschwalben aus Österreich" by August Silberstein, a volume of village stories reflecting the deep spirit and cheerful humour in the life of common people of Austrian countryside. August Silberstein had been a long time acquaintance of Josef Strauss and dedicated this waltz to him. The waltz reveals the closeness of the composer to nature and stands at the end of a long development of the waltz form. Dorfschwalben aus Österreich was performed for the first time on 6th September 1864, at the concert of the Strauss orchestra in the Viennese imperial Volksgarten, and shortly thereafter was repeated in the Neue Welt in Heitzing. Since that time the work has never disappeared from the repertoire of entertainment and dance orchestras and is also performed time and again by symphony orchestras all over the world.

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Painting: Young Swallows
Artist: G.E. Collins

Wiener Johann Strauss Orchester
Johannes Wildner