Bacchanten-Quadrille, Op. 8 - Josef Strauss

"Bacchanalian Revellers". The Bachanten-Quadrille belonged to that group of earlier compositions by Josef Strauss which C.A. Spina published in February 1856. These works date from 1853 (Opus 1) until February 1856, with the majority having been composed in the summer of 1855. In a letter to his brother Johann, Josef Strauss hinted, as early as August 1855, at the fact that publisher C. A. Spina was prepared to publish several of his compositions. This remark was inserted in a thank you note to Spina, stating that Johann would have no objections to these arrangements. (Johann Strauss had a contract with Spina’s competitor, Carl Haslinger).

The publisher Spina must have chosen wisely from the collection of novelties which Josef Strauss had accumulated thus far, and acquired the most valuable works. It is possible that the Bachanten-Quadrille was first performed in the autumn of 1855, but most probably this took place at the beginning of the Carnival season of 1856 at one of the numerous balls (perhaps at Sperl’s establishment) where Josef conducted, either alternating with his brother Johann or alone. Joyful, exuberant, ‘bacchanalian’ dance festivals were then a speciality of Sperl’s establishment in Leopoldstadt. The quadrille, which appeared in print as Opus 8, must have been very successful, because it was included in the programmes of the Strauss orchestra during subsequent years.

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Painting: A Bacchanal
Artist: Jan Brueghel the Elder & Hendrik van Balen I
Date: 1608

Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra
Christian Pollack