Sturm-Quadrille, Op. 3 - Josef Strauss

"Storm-Quadrille". In the Morgenpost of 19th August 1855, and in the Fremden-Blatt of that same date, it was announced that an afternoon concert would be held in Unger’s Casino in Hernals under the direction of Josef Strauss. (His brother Johann Strauss was in Bad Gastein at the time for a rest cure.) The Sturm-Quadrille by Josef Strauss would be presented for the first time at this concert. The announcement was surprising in that specifically in the 1850s, stormy galoppades and quadrilles were announced as the high point of Strauss balls. The title page of the piano score, published by C. A. Spina following a rather long delay at the time of the Carnival in 1856, depicts a ball scene. But there is no doubt that the Sturm-Quadrille, the orchestral parts of which were preserved only in the form of copies, was first performed on 19th August 1855. Also announced on 19th August 1855 was an “extraordinary concert” in the Grosse Zeisig for 20th August. No other information was given except “New compositions by Josef Strauss: Tarantel Polka (Tarantella Polka), (Op. 6), Vergissmeinnicht (Forget-me-not), (Op. 2), and Sturm-Quadrille”. In the Theater-Zeitung of 5th September 1855, the group of new works received praise in a review of Josef Strauss’s activity during his brother’s absence. The works, according to the review, “enjoyed a most thunderously approving reception”. The wish, expressed at the same time, that these compositions be published was later fulfilled in February 1856. But by then the very first works of the highly gifted but much too modest Josef Strauss had already disappeared from the orchestra repertoire of the day.

Painting: Quadrille at the Bal Bullier
Artist: G Barry

Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra Kosice
Karl Albert Geyer