Musen-Quadrille, Op. 46 - Josef Strauss

"The Muses". The Musen-Quadrille was composed during the 1858 carnival season, and was first performed by Josef Strauss at the Artists’ Ball at the “Sperl” dance hall on 18 January. This was actually the small Artists’ Ball, which was organized by the modest association of painters and writers. On 2 February 1858, there was another Artists’ Ball in the larger venue of the Sofiensaal: on this occasion Johann Strauss presented his Künstler-Quadrille, Op. 201, for the first time. Whereas the Musen-Quadrille by Josef Strauss contained original motifs, Johann Strauss incorporated motifs from the world of opera and symphonic music, rendering his work professionally controversial. The nine muses, which are portrayed all together on the title page of the piano score, clearly inspired the composer in writing his quadrille: the result was a stirring, richly modulated work.

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Painting: Dance of the Muses
Artist: Anelia Pavlova
Date: 2009

Slovak State Philhamonic Orchestra, Kosice
John Georgiadis