The Strauss Family's Quirkiest Polkas
While some classical music skews serious, one thing we love about the Strausses is their collective willingness to keep things light and bright. Where Viennese waltzes leave us smiling, polkas take things a step (or hop) further and can make us downright giggle with their willingness to sometimes slant toward silly.
If you’re having a down day and can’t hold out for Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert to brighten your spirits, here are seven of the quirkiest Strauss polkas to push “play” on for an instant lightening of mood.
Thunder and Lightning Polka - Johann Strauss II
An upbeat polka for a rainy day! Percussionists create a storm on stage with thunderous drum and cymbal effects. This is wonderfully demonstrated in our A Salute to Vienna PBS Special.
Feuerfest! Polka - Josef Strauss
This orchestration, commissioned by a company named Wertheim that produced fireproof safes, features an anvil and hammer as instruments, paying homage to the company manufacturing its 20,000th safe. Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert’s rendition, under conductor Alastair Willis, added some comedic costumes, prat falls, and hydration breaks.
Champagne Polka - Johann Strauss Jr.
We raise a glass to this polka and all its cork-popping sound effects. Despite having been written as a “musical joke,” it is still enjoyed today.
Pizzicato Polka - Johann Strauss Jr. and Josef Strauss
This is what a polka sounds like when a bunch of plucky string musicians forget their bows at home.
Explosions Polka - Johann Strauss Sr.
This polka starts and ends with a bang! Giving the Thunder and Lightning Polka
a run for its money, this piece contains explosive percussion.
Plappermäulchen (Chatterbox) Polka - Josef Strauss
A polka fit to be the talk of the town. The orchestra uses a ratchet to simulate the sound of rapidly spoken gossip.
Jockey Polka - Josef Strauss
This polka is always a cracking good time. Although a slapstick is used for the sound of the jockey’s whip, there is no actual horseplay on stage.
Simply reading about some of these offbeat arrangements is enough to spark a smile. Experiencing a peculiar polka performed live at Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, tucked amidst a programme of Viennese waltzes, overtures, arias, and duets, is a whole other level of joy. See you there!
