View source for Kaiser-Walzer

{{short description|1889 waltz by Johann Baptist Strauss II}}
{{Redirect|Emperor Waltz}}
[[File:Empfangskommitee für Kaiser Franz Joseph I. von Österreich und Kaiser Wilhelm II.jpg|thumb|Emperors [[Wilhelm II]] and [[Franz Joseph I]] during the latter’s visit to Berlin in 1889]]
{{Listen|type=music
| filename     = Strauss, Kaiserwalzer.ogg
| title        = A section from ''Kaiser-Walzer'' (3:01)
| description  = 
}}
'''''Kaiser-Walzer''''', Op. 437 ('''''Emperor Waltz''''') is a [[waltz]] composed by [[Johann Strauss II]] in 1889. The waltz was originally titled ''Hand in Hand'' and was intended as a toast made in August of that year by [[Emperor of Austria]] [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph I]] on the occasion of his visit to the [[German Emperor]] [[Wilhelm II]] where it was symbolic as a 'toast of friendship' extended by [[Austria-Hungary]] to the [[German Empire]].

Strauss' publisher, [[Fritz Simrock]], suggested the title ''Kaiser-Walzer,'' since the title could allude to either monarch. The waltz was first performed in [[Berlin]] on 21 October 1889. The original cover of the piano edition bore the illustration of the [[Habsburg|Austrian]] Imperial Crown.

== Composition ==
<score sound="1">
 \relative c' {
  \new PianoStaff <<
   \new Staff { \key a \minor \time 2/2
    \tempo \markup {
     \column {
      \line { Introduction. }
      \line { Langsames Marschtempo. }
     }
    }
    <c e,>-.\pp g4-. <c e,>-. g4-. <c e,>-. g4-. <c e,>-. g4-. <e' c g> r8 <e c>8 <e g>4 r8 <d b>8 <d b f'>4 <d b f'> <c e> r <c e> r8 <c e>8 <e g>4 r8 <g b>8 <a f b,>4 <a f b,> <g e c> r
   }
   \new Staff { \key a \minor \time 2/2 \clef bass
    <c, c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-. <c c,>-. g4-.
   }
  >>
 }
</score>

A quiet march starts the waltz's introduction before a sweeping crescendo heralds the gentle principal melody of the first waltz. As more waltz sections are introduced, the mood remains constantly upbeat and triumphant. A [[cello]] solo, rather like a [[cadenza]], near the end of the work reprises the melody of the first waltz section, before a [[trumpet]] fanfare ushers the end of the work, complete with a drumroll on the [[timpani]] and a strong brass flourish.

;Waltz 2
<score sound="1">
 \relative c' {
  \new PianoStaff <<
   \new Staff { \key f \minor \time 3/4
    \tempo \markup {
     \column {
   }
    }
    r <aes' aes'>-.( <aes aes'>-.) <aes aes'>( <g g'> c) <c f,>2.( <bes f>) r4 <g g'>4-.( <g g'>-.) <g g'>( <f f'> bes) <bes ees,>2.( <aes ees>) r4 f'4-.( f-.) f ( ees aes,) aes\mordent( g) aes bes2
   }
   \new Dynamics {
    s\p
    }
   \new Staff { \key f \minor \time 3/4 \clef bass
    c,,4 <aes' ees'> <aes ees'> c, <aes' ees'> <aes ees'> des, <bes' des> <bes des> des, <bes' des> <bes des> bes, <bes' des> <bes des> ees, <g des'> <g des'> c, <ees c' aes> <ees c' aes> c <ees c' aes> <ees c' aes> aes, <aes' ees' c> <aes ees' c> aes, <aes' ees' c> <aes ees' c> ees <bes' des> <bes des> ees,
   }
  >>
 }
</score>

==Instrumentation==

It is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, cymbals, bass drum, snare drum, harp, and strings.

==References==
* {{Peter Kemp}}

== External links ==
* {{IMSLP|work=Kaiser-Walzer, Op.437 (Strauss Jr., Johann)|cname=Kaiser-Walzer}}

{{Johann Strauss II}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1889 compositions]]
[[Category:1889 in international relations]]
[[Category:Franz Joseph I of Austria]]
[[Category:Austria-Hungary–Germany relations]]
[[Category:Waltzes by Johann Strauss II]]
[[Category:Wilhelm II]]