Johann Strauss II
PIZZICATO POLKA for orchestra
Goodmusic Concert Classics GMCL240
Catalogue Number: GMCL240
Difficulty level: D What's this?
ISMN: 9790222335820
Download Available What's this?
Arranged by Peter Lawson
Orchestration: Flute, Piccolo, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones, Tuba
Timpani, Percussion [2 players: Triangle, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Bass Drum]
Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)
The idea of a Pizzicato Polka was first suggested by Johann Strauss Jnr to his brother, Josef, as a way of igniting the audience in a concert tour of Russia. Josef helped rehearse and conduct on such occasions, so that sharing the workload would allow each of the brothers more time to compose music. However, Josef was sceptical about the idea, but when Johann suggested that they should both write it, he became much keener and ideas began to flow from the joint collaboration. It was first performed on June 24th, 1869 in Pavlosk, near St Petersburg, to such rapturous applause that it was encored at the end of the concert.
There exists a score of the Polka with full orchestra to accompany the pizzicato strings, but the rest of the orchestra would tend to obscure them to some extent. Nowadays, most performances are with strings only, plus a Glockenspiel playing in the first section of the Trio, but some performances bring in the orchestra for the very first chord in bars 1 and 3 and the very last chord at the end. Modern-day audiences are somewhat more familiar with pizzicato passages than their nineteenth-century counterparts. To add an extra level of interest and intrigue, this arrangement brings the full orchestra in more often, where sections are repeated, to bring about enhanced contrast and thereby keep the audience entertained. The original orchestral score is without tempi instructions, articulation and slurs - and contains a howling error in the Coda - these shortcomings have been amended accordingly! Peter Lawson
A PACK includes a full score plus a full set of wind, brass and percussion parts plus strings 4/4/3/4/2
Duration 2½ minutes
Orchestration: Flute, Piccolo, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones, Tuba
Timpani, Percussion [2 players: Triangle, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Bass Drum]
Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)
The idea of a Pizzicato Polka was first suggested by Johann Strauss Jnr to his brother, Josef, as a way of igniting the audience in a concert tour of Russia. Josef helped rehearse and conduct on such occasions, so that sharing the workload would allow each of the brothers more time to compose music. However, Josef was sceptical about the idea, but when Johann suggested that they should both write it, he became much keener and ideas began to flow from the joint collaboration. It was first performed on June 24th, 1869 in Pavlosk, near St Petersburg, to such rapturous applause that it was encored at the end of the concert.
There exists a score of the Polka with full orchestra to accompany the pizzicato strings, but the rest of the orchestra would tend to obscure them to some extent. Nowadays, most performances are with strings only, plus a Glockenspiel playing in the first section of the Trio, but some performances bring in the orchestra for the very first chord in bars 1 and 3 and the very last chord at the end. Modern-day audiences are somewhat more familiar with pizzicato passages than their nineteenth-century counterparts. To add an extra level of interest and intrigue, this arrangement brings the full orchestra in more often, where sections are repeated, to bring about enhanced contrast and thereby keep the audience entertained. The original orchestral score is without tempi instructions, articulation and slurs - and contains a howling error in the Coda - these shortcomings have been amended accordingly! Peter Lawson
A PACK includes a full score plus a full set of wind, brass and percussion parts plus strings 4/4/3/4/2
Duration 2½ minutes
