Description
The Pizzicato Polka was written by Johann Strauss II, the ‘Waltz King’ of Vienna, together with his brother Josef, for a visit to Imperial Russia in 1869. Its name derives from its scoring: string orchestra, to be played pizzicato throughout, with the sound effect heightened by the inclusion of a glockenspiel. The work was an instant success: on Strauss’s subsequent tour of Italy it was performed in every concert.
A polka is originally a Czech, fast two-step dance. It became popular in Prague high society during the 1830s, from which it quickly spread to the ballrooms of Vienna, Paris, London and America. Only towards the end of the century did ‘Polkamania’ eventually give way to a new craze – ragtime.
Arranged for bassoon quartet by Frances Jones.
