West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-08-15
Waltz Music.

That the waltz is the most charming
dance ever invented is sufficiently
proved by the quantity of beautiful mu-
sic In waltz form written by modern
composers, from Weber to Offenbach,
and from Beethoven to Brahms. Like
the fiddlers of Kriloff s fable, who we're
good men but bad musicians Bee
thoven'S waltzes are good rs music, but
detestable as music for dancing. Not so
the waltZcs of Weber, the inventor, or,
at least, the perfectOr of the form, whose
Irresistible Invitation TO the Waltz still
remains the most mclodious and most
rhythmical specimen of this fascinating
class of music. The Invitation to the
Wall was not, it need scarcely be said,
written as dance music; but waltz that
cannot be danced to deserves to be put
in the same category as songs that can
not be sung; and Weber's typical. mon
umental waltz, at once the most class
| ical and the most romantic example of
the style. seems as introduced with Ber-
lioz's orchestration in that masters YER
sion of der Freischutz," TO have been
primarily written TO suit the steps of the
dancers. Beethovcn's waltZes, with all
their beauty which, since they are the
work of Beethoven, one is bound to adj
mit-might have been written TO accom-
pany the steps of those elephants
who, in the circus of imperial Rome,
were trained 10 walk on the tight rope.
Modern waltz music comes almost
exclusively from Vienna. Chopin, in
deed, Is the only composer, not of
Vienuese origin who'has written perfect
waltzcs. Some If the Vienncse waltz
makers were not, 10 is true. born at
| Vienna. Gung'l for instance was
hungarian But the composer is some
times formed by his audience, and at
vienna beautiful waltz is more readily
| appreciated than elsewhere Lanner,
LabiHky and the Strausscs all belong
/ by birth or adoption 90 Vienna. For
the last sixty years all Europe has
danced TO the music Of waltzcs by some
members Of the Strauss family: by
Johann Strauss the elder, or Johann
Strauss the younger, or by one OF the
brothers Of this younger Johann.
Among other groundless accusations
brought against the English by Heine
(whO, however, becamerccOncilcd to us
before he dicd,) is that Of being unable
70 waltz in time even to the music Of
Strauss. II was on the authority of
Johann the elder that Hdine made this
/ charge, which in the present day will be
ietelNcu WIN lnrredulltY. That the
Strausses possessed, and that the youn-
ger members Of the family still possess.
a special aptitude for waltz compost
ton. amounting almost 10 genius. can
scarcely be denied and negative proof
Of this is given by the comparative fall
ure Of far greater composers. such as
Doniletti and Verdi, who have both
written formal wal.zcs; the former i'm
the third act n don Pasquaie. the
latter in the first act Of ia Traviata. 80
or late years many composers have
written walt melodies for tine voices.
NenzanO is believed 90 have originated
this style, which has been continued with
striking success by Ardlti. Gounod. iu
bis Romeo and Juliet, has written for the
hcroinea very charming waltz, 30 which
pedantic objection has been made on tie
untenablc ground that the waltz form
wa not known IN the days Of the MOnta-
CUES and tue Capulcts. The earliest
specimen Of the waltz for the voice
occurs, so lar ~ I know, in Ghuka's
second and last opera, Russian Ludinia.
produced ia 1872. English HlustrobsC
Tagazins