The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-26
STRAUSS SOPHIE WALTZ.
The Romance of the Composers Great
Masterpiece.


Strauss is . second Orpheus, whose ten
der-moaning, spirit-stirring, love-kissing
music conquers the most inveterate enemy
| OF TGpsichOre; whose magic sounds
soothe hearts, still signs, dry tears. tame
wild beasts, and move the stones them
selves. Strauss has written waltzes that
are more to me than many operas. In
! seven of his measures there is often more
! melody than in as many heavy scores of
other musicians. What a iullness of syren
beauty, what a rich mine Of poetry, what
an inexhaustble fount OF ever-gushing
melody And not the melody alone-the
| rythm, also, with magical influence seizes
the brain and enters the heart. His vio-
lin is a talisman by which he draws from
the depths of tho human soul brightest
/ joys, and deepest woe, aud mingles them
with master hand. The bow with which
! he draws these many-colored tones from
his instrument is q magic wand, which
touches the griei-torn soul with the heal
! ing balsam of JOY. and lends her wings to
mount up into the heaven Of peace. There
are waltz compositions as rich in melody,
! but few az rich in melting rhythm, as
those OF Strauss; by times skipping, hum
ming, Waiting, gliding and dancing--so
inviting, so irresistible, that no dancer
can Withstand their witching influence.
He is the idol Of women. In every house,
on every piano in Vienna, lie Strauss
waltzes He has written over two hun
bred. All are iavorites; all are sung and
triled and played throughout Europe.
Cobbler and dandy hum and pine them.
We hear them in the street. at the ball, in
the garden, and az the thester. The dane
ing Viennese carry him on their shout
ders, and shout Strauss forever"
This Strauss, this waltz-hero, loved me
daughter OF q count. Sophie was her
name. Her eye was bluer than Haley's
heaven, and softer than the sweet light of
the evening star Grace and beauty were
in every motion, and music I'm every tone.
In word, Sophie was beautifut-dab-
Zlingly beautiful. lie would have given
worlds 10 have won but one glance OF love,
but she was cold and stern. Madness, in
deed, for a poor physician, with nothing
but his violin, 90 dare 20 love the high
born Sophie, who had as many noble an
cestors as he had watzes.
"lmperiinentm eaid Sophie and when
he came 10 give her brother a lesson on
the violin, she scarcely deigned him a
look. Shortly aiterward, Sophie was be-
trothed to Count Robert. lord chamber
lain, who bad, indeed, as many proud an
cestors rs Sophie, but beyond these, and
his titles, had nothing Of which he could
boast.
One day, when Strauss CHANGED 10 be
alone with Sophie. he sank upon his knees
before her, and with burning words de-
clared his love, and besought her % give
him but one word or look Of love ere be
was quite driven 10 despair. But neither
tears nor protestations moved her. She
was cold and unfeeling as marble. Il am
an afianced BRIDE" She said haughtily,
"and IL were not, think you ! would be-
come the wife OF a poor musicianp She
turned scornfully away, and left him alone
IN his grief and despair. The repentance
which soon awoke in the heart OF Sophie,
unhappiiy came too late The bridegroom
and her father fastened the marriage.
Count Robert asked Strauss 90 compose n
waltz and play 10 at the wedding. Strauss,
the most miserable man In the universe,
promised him both. 'ie wishes to wound e
me yet more deeply" said the unhappy
man TO himself, "but forgive him: and
may she be happy; may she never repent
her choice"
He addressed himself earnestly 10 bis
work. This waltz should be the inter
prefer OF his passion and his grief 10
Sophie. IL should challenge az least her
pity, ii not her love. When all the great
city slept, Strauss took his violin, opened
his window, gazed out into the cold night.
and improvised and moaned forth bis sad
tale OF woe 10 the sweet stars above that
looked kindly down on the desolate and
heart-stricken. The day OF the wedding
came at last This fiery agony OF love bad
given him a waltz every measure OF which
spoke a longing sorrow, a, wailng woe.
The hall glistened and shone with bright
Jewels and brighter eyes; but Sophie was
more gloriously beautiful than all. Tho
richest gems lent their charms and their
luster; the pure myrtle wreath doomed
in her golden hair, and the rare and costly
bridal veil shaded her beautiful features
from the full gaze OF the adoring crowd.
Strauss, haggard, emaciated man, with
brilliant, piercing black ewes, sharp, strong
Unmarked features, dressed from head 10
foot in black as though be bad assumed
this mourning livery for the bride now
dead 10 him, stood sad and silent in the
gallery above, directing the movements Of
the orchestra. Sophie danced now with
one, now with another OF the wedding
guests. and as often as she paused after
the giddy whirl of the dance she turned
neT tNtH loMAAu ALN ldiSs ElANA- AAh1AA
Strauss, in his robes OF sorrow and mourn
ing, and met his piercing look OF despair
ing love.
1t was more than pity she felt; It was
remorse, and it was kindling love.
A terrible pain awoke in her
heart. like a swelling stream, growing
ever wider and deeper, threatening to
Overwhelm and destroy her quite. Gladly
she would have wept, but she dared not
1t sounded u O'Clock, and Strauss gave
the signal for the performance Of the new
waltz. The gay dancers stood 10, sophie
on the arm OF the happy bridegroom. All
stand spell-bound with the Wondrous
witchery of those magic sounds. They
forgot to dance; they gazed wonceringly
up at the pale man in black, whose grief
torn soul breathed ont its woe through
the sounding strings of bis instrument.
His bow moved-with his heart went his
spirit. The bridegroom led off; they
dance and dance. Strauss followed
the flying with fearful eyes, torn heart.
They dance, and dance, and dance, and
will never cease. Strauss plays, and PLAYS,
and plays, and will never stop this Won
derful waltz, which so fearfully Affects
both him and them. They dance and
dance; he plays and plays; suddenly the
L of his violin snaps, and in that moment
Sophie falls dead upon the hoor Violin
and bow fall from his trembling hands
and with a cry of horror he shrieked,
''Sophiei" and fell fainting on the floor.