Wanna dance?

Before I continue analyzing Mozart's rondo movement of the Divertimento K 563, I'd like to take a moment to share some interesting things about Johann Strauss.  The Waltz King.  King of Waltzes!  Titan of three-four time!  In a deeply interesting book about Viennese musicians* I read about the Strauss empire.  We've all heard Strauss's name from time to time (and the waltzing Strauss is not to be confused with Richard Strauss, who is famous for an entirely different kind of musical contribution) but many of us don't know much more about this interesting person aside from his contribution to dance music.  Johann was born in Vienna in 1804, and though he wasn't the first composer to write dance music in 3/4 time, he was the one to make it wildly popular.  And he wrote a lot of them.  He was also a marketing genius, using many of the same techniques used by music promoters today.  He organized festivals and charged admission, he was careful to have sheet music available and pre-printed at each event so that it could be sold immediately (and then people could go home and play it themselves.) 

An interesting note about the waltz itself:  It was considered obscene and erotic by the chaste city population at the time of its introduction (early to mid 1800s).  Instead of daintily holding hands, the dancers would hold their arms around each other and whirl around until sometimes falling down from dizziness.  Because of this, waltzing was considered crude and vulgar.  Though the public outwardly claimed to find such performances repulsive, they inwardly enjoyed themselves too much, and so made the waltz a part of their society.

The Strauss empire included Johann Strauss (the Elder), and his sons, Joseph and Johann Jr. who only entered the profession due to the urgings of Strauss's wife, Anna (they eventually separated, but the care of the children was in her hands).  It was Anna who encouraged her sons to learn violin, piano and composing and they went on to make a name for themselves in the City of Music and the world. 

Ah-one-two-three!

*Vienna: A Guide to Its Music and Musicians.  Franz Endler.  Amadeus Press: Portland Oregan.  1989 translation.