Saturday, September 29, 2012

Blue Danube Waltz

My sister Hannah has been working on a piano piece called Blue Danube Waltz by  Johann Strauss all summer long. Strauss is an Austrian composer who composed  Blue Danube in 1866 in honor of the Danube River that flows through Vienna.  He was  known to compose light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. In his lifetime, he was known as "The Waltz King."

Strauss was born in St. Ulrich, a city near Vienna, to Johann Strauss I, a composer of dance music. His father did not wish him to become a composer, but rather a banker because they were poor family. Nevertheless, Strauss Junior studied the violin secretly, and when his father discovered his son secretly practicing one day, he gave him a severe whipping, saying that he was going to beat the music out of the boy. Fortunately, this did not discourage the young musician from learning the violin, and today we can enjoy many of the pieces he composed.

Hannah is six years old, and enjoys playing the piano as well as the violin which she just started a month ago.  This piece is 6 pages longs and is taller than her. She hopes you enjoy listening to her play.






Did you enjoy this piece?

9 comments:

  1. Dear Miriam,

    I loved this post your little sister played this piece so beautifully I was so impressed. :)
    As a matter of fact while I was writing this comment to you I replayed the video of Hannah playing the piano.

    That's how much I truly loved listening to Hannah playing the piano.

    You go! Hannah keep on playing the piano.

    From a huge fan down under,
    AA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear AA,

      Thank you for leaving me a comment. Hannah really appreciated your comment as she read it with me. Hannah will keep learning different songs and I will post the videos.

      Your pal,
      Miriam

      Delete
  2. @ Miriam and Hannah,

    I am sitting outside in my backyard on the deck. It is a beautiful warm night, and I didn't think it could get much better. Then I saw that there was a new post over on Miriam's Magical Moments and the night got better. The music is a perfect complement to the moonlight! Thank you!

    I love waltzes and polkas! You played this one beautifully! Like AA, I played the song again while I typed my comment! Good one, AA!

    What a life Strauss must have had. To have to keep his love of music a secret. Thank goodness he persevered!

    Does Romeo enjoy listening to you all play the piano?

    Your proud former teacher,
    Mrs. Y♥llis



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mrs. Yollis,

      I am glad you enjoyed Hannah's music. Romeo is the most adorable creature when we play piano. He crawls another the piano chair and listens and bites your slippers that hang next to him. He is especially excited when the piano teacher comes, he jumps and sits there until the lessons are over.

      Sincerely,
      Miriam

      Delete
  3. Dear Miriam and Hannah,
    I hope Hannah soon also will have her own blog and we all can write directly to her.
    What a performance! Just wonderful to see a little girl playing piano and enjoying the music.
    I hope you all will continue playing.
    Love you,
    Grandma Tanya and Grandpa Eugene

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Gradma Tanya and Grandpa Eugene,

      Thank you for the comment. Hannah is looking forward for a blog when she is older.

      Love,
      Miriam

      Delete
  4. Dear Miriam,

    Your little sister played amazingly! I have an older sibling that also plays piano.His name is marcos. I also have alittle sister,but she doesn't play an instrument. Iguess I decided to write to you because my name is miriam also.my talent is singing. Do you have a talent? If so , what is it?
    miriam D.

    p.s.check out my blog at http://kidblog.org/MrLochamy/author/c0cd2ac4-630d-4310-b88d-a2dbc73ef9ea/, can't wait to hear from you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow thats really impressive , I played piano for two years but you are way better than me. Keep up the good work ! My blog if you ever want to read them is http://kidblog.org/MrsPrestonsClass4/author/hollandw28361/

    ReplyDelete
  6. i want TO play thaT song can u put music sheet on u r blog??
    i really like that song!!!

    ReplyDelete

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