The Zwölf Walzer’ originated in a time when the classic waltz was far from being socially accepted. It was still considered a somewhat scandalous dance of the lower classes and became the latest trend in the salons of the nobility only after the Congress of Vienna. With his 12 waltzes, composed during his first Parisian phase in 1811, Neukomm was on the cutting edge of the musical consciousness of his age, even though it is hard for us today to perceive this music as scandalous. A...
The Zwölf Walzer’ originated in a time when the classic waltz was far from being socially accepted. It was still considered a somewhat scandalous dance of the lower classes and became the latest trend in the salons of the nobility only after the Congress of Vienna. With his 12 waltzes, composed during his first Parisian phase in 1811, Neukomm was on the cutting edge of the musical consciousness of his age, even though it is hard for us today to perceive this music as scandalous. An ideal complement to music lessons for moderately advanced pupils, but also fitting as stage music or prima vista studies, Neukomm’s waltzes in the version for Piano Solo offer a charming glimpse at an evolving musical genre.
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Die ‘Zwölf Walzer’ entstanden in einer Zeit, in der der klassische Walzer noch nicht salonfähig war. Noch galt er als bei Hofe nicht angemessener Gesellschaftstanz, und wurde erst durch den Wiener Kongress zur neuesten musikalischen Mode in den Salons der Adeligen. Neukomm war mit den 12 Walzern, die er 1811 in seiner ersten Pariser Zeit komponierte also am Puls der neuesten Entwicklungen, auch wenn es uns heute schwer fällt, diese Musik als skandalös zu werten. Vor allem als ideale Ergänzung für den Musikunterricht der Mittelstufe aber auch als Bühnenmusik oder Prima Vista Studien erlebt man mit Neukomms Walzern in der Fassung für Piano Solo eine Gattung auf dem Weg zu ihrer Geburt.
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