History of the Viennese Waltz
When most people think of the waltz, they think of the Viennese Waltz. The musical origins of the Viennese Waltz come from the 5th movement in a suite, the minuet- always written in ¾ time. As time progressed, composers such as Johan Strauss and Tchaikovsky increased the speed, furor, and brightness of the minuet to the music today. While today, it is featured in movies like the Sound of Music or Tales of the Vienna Woods, it was once considered a scandalous dance due to the close proximity of the dancers.
About the Dance
The Viennese Waltz is a fairly simple dance in the sense that there are far fewer steps than any other dance. Yet, it continues to be one of the most beautiful and memorable as it appears that multiple dancers have choreographed a routine at the same time. Standard Viennese Waltz remains one of the dances with a fast tempo, and because of it requires great technical precision.
Recommended Music List for Beginners
- The Waltz, Paradou Orchestra
- Wiener Stadtbummel, Ambros Seelos
- Out of My Dreams, Victor Silvester
- Carousel, Masters of Modern
- Les Mille Et Nuits, Klaus Hallen
- Annie’s Song, Michael Stanton
- Count of Luxemborg, Paradou Orchestra
- Valsa Opus 66A (I Know You, Sleeping Beauty), Masters of Modern
- Laura’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago, 101 Strings
- Bosci Del Sud, Feelings Tonight