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PATRIOTIC INSPIRATION
By Marc Geelhoed
Though love of one's city and country may seem an obvious starting point for musical inspiration, few composers have written lasting works on the theme. Two of the exceptions are Johann Strauss, Sr., who penned the "Radetzky March," which closes every New Year's Day concert of the Vienna Philharmonic 1, and his son, who wrote "Tales from the Vienna Woods," which is part of the 2005 program. Both pieces were born out of the dance orchestra leaders' devotion to Vienna and Austria, the city and country that launched the men into international superstardom.
The history of the "Radetzky March" highlights the generational divide of the Revolution of 1848, which failed to oust the established political order. Students and workers struggled to overthrow the monarchy in early 1848; resistance spread to Vienna from Paris by March 13, and was suppressed within six months. The empire survived, but finally did give way in 1918 as a result of World War I.
The political divisions of the Strauss family mirrored those in other European households, with Johann Sr., defending the monarchy and the wealthy and Johann Jr. advocating the revolutionaries' cause. Although Johann Jr. composed the "Revolution March" in 1849 and performed the Marseillaise with his orchestra, his support of the insurgents may not have been that steadfast. He quickly scuttled the works when he began to lose performing engagements from the ruling class. And even Johann Sr., who was closely linked to the loyalists, composed the "March of the Student Legions" and the "Freedom March." Still, their personal political convictions were those of the old defending the old and the young defending the young.
The "Radetzky March" arose from Johann Sr.'s devotion to the ruling class. Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky had risen through the Austrian Army's ranks and was its leader during the burgeoning Italian freedom movement, the Risorgimento. What is now part of northern Italy was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Radetzky led the army in a series of spectacular victories in 1848 and 1849 that cemented, momentarily, the empire's control over the region. Named for the hero, the march became the elder Strauss' most famous and enduring work.
1 Except in 2005, when the chairman of the orchestra instead presented a donation to the director-general of the World Health Organization to aid the victims of the Asian tsunami.
Top banner photos: The cellists of the Vienna Philharmonic, the golden statue of Johann Strauss, Jr. in Vienna's Stadtpark (Austrian National Tourist Office/Wiesenhofer), and the orchestra's horn section. |
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Walter Cronkite, the popular former newsman, marks his 21st season as host of the annual festivities. |
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The full orchestra is comprised of more than 120 members, 55 of whom are violinists and violists. |
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The DVD and CD are available from Amazon.com. |
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