Frühlingsstimmen

Frühlingsstimmen ("Voices of Spring") op. 410 is a waltz by Johann Strauss II that was written in 1882. The work was intended as a waltz with a solo voice accompaniment (as opposed to a choral waltz) of whom the famous coloratura soprano Bertha Schwarz (stage name =Bianca Bianchi) was to sing the waltz at a grand matinée charity performance at the Theater an der Wien in aid of the 'Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth Foundation for Indigent Austro-Hungarian subjects in Leipzig'.

Bianca Bianchi was then a famous member of the Vienna Court Opera Theatre and Strauss was sufficiently inspired to compose a new work for the acclaimed singer as well as to write a waltz for solo voice. The result was his world-renowned 'Frühlingsstimmen' waltz which glorified spring and remained one of the classical repertoire's most famous waltzes.

The waltz makes a grand entry in the key of Bb major with loud chords preceded with the waltz' three beats to the bar ushering the first waltz's gentle and swirling melody. The 2nd waltz section invokes the joys of spring with the flute imitating birdsong and a pastoral scene. The plaintive and dramatic 3rd section in F minor probably suggests spring showers whereas the 4th section that follows breaks out from the pensive mood with another cheerful melody in Ab major. Without a coda, the familiar first waltz melody makes a grand entrance before its breathless finish, strong chords and the usual timpani drumroll and warm brass flourish.

Frühlingsstimmen in popular culture

*The piece is featured in in the "Ball" stage.
*"Frühlingsstimmen" is probably best known today from its use by the American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges in their short films "Micro-Phonies" and "Brideless Groom".
*In Chariots of Fur, "Frühlingsstimmen" is on the soundtrack for a gag featuring a giant coil spring.

References