Wein, Weib und Gesang (Wine, Women, and Song)

The Strauss waltz which gives this concert its name dates from 1869, placing it firmly in the period of the composer’s greatest renown. Though originally composed for voices, it is usually heard in instrumental arrangement either by Strauss himself or, as is the case tonight, by Alban Berg. Berg made his setting of Wein, Weib, und Gesang in 1921 for a benefit concert; according to legend it featured Arnold Schoenberg on violin, Anton Webern on cello, and Berg on harmonium. Strauss' work offers musical accompaniment to the old adage: “whoever does not like wine, women, and song remains a fool his whole life long.” The piece opens with a massive multi-themed introduction, which is often abbreviated in performance. Four individual waltzes follow; the first characterized by a lilting panache, the second more restrained, and the third and martial fourth a mixture of both temperaments. A short coda rounds off the entire work which, while not heard as often as Strauss' more famous waltzes, is still as charming. Richard Wagner favored it above all others!

(c) Jason Stell