A Trip to Vienna

Happy New Year!

Let’s ring in the year of our Lord two-thousand and twenty-fifth in style with a little trip to Vienna.

In truth, I’ve never been to Vienna. But, their celebrations on the eve of the New Year conclude with this little tune, a tune that I am particularly fond of:

This is of course, the Radetzky March, composed by Johan Strauss senior in 1848. It is so named as it was composed in celebration of Field Marshall Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. It was done so following Radetzky’s victory over the Italian forces at the Battle of Custoza. The battle itself, whilst not a decisive victory for the Austrian Empire as the tune might lead one to believe, did lead to a reversal in the Italian War of Independence, and the subsequent battles led to the driving out of the Piedmontese and restoration of Austrian control over the area.

Whilst returning to Austria, Radetzky’s men were joyfully singing the folk melody Alter Tanz aus Wien or Tinerl-Lied. Strauss allegedly witnessed this and incorporated the melody into the trio of this piece. The march has taken on a life of its own since then, becoming a psuedo national anthem for Austria. Perhaps my favourite tradition associated with it is the clapping along to the chorus, which was apparently first done spontaneously by Austrian officers. It is done softly and silently at first, then bombastically and triumphantly after. Observe:

So simple, yet so delightful!

Aside from that, I haven’t much more to say about this little piece, but man it brings a big grin to my face! If you want some more of the Strauss family to ring in the New Year, then pop champagne to this little polka, a musical joke:

Happy Listening!

Sancta Caecilia, ora pro nobis!