Feuerfest!

Feuerfest! ('Fireproof!'), Op. 269, is a polka-française composed by Josef Strauss in 1869.

$\relative c' { \new PianoStaff << \new Staff { \key b \minor \time 2/4 \partial 4. \tempo \markup { \column { } } a''8 a,16 b cis d e8 a d,16 e fis g a8 a <d d,> <a a,> <fis fis,> <d d,> <a' a,> r <a, cis,>-^ r <fis' a,>8 <d fis,> <fis a,> <d fis,> \slashedGrace d( <g b,>) <fis a,> fis16 e d a \slashedGrace a( <fis' a,>8) <e g,> e16 cis b a \slashedGrace a e'8-. d-. d4-> <fis a,>8 <d fis,> <fis a,> <d fis,> \slashedGrace d8( g) fis fis16 d cis b \slashedGrace b8( fis') e fis16 e fis gis \slashedGrace cis, b'8-. a-. a4-> } \new Staff { \key b \minor \time 2/4 \clef bass a,,8 a,16 b cis d e8 a d,16 e fis g a8 a d,8 a d fis a r <a, e'>-^ r <d fis>8 <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <g a,>8 <g a> <g a,> <g a> <d fis> <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <d fis> <fis a> <d b> <d fis b> <e gis>8 <gis d'> <e g> <g d'> <a, a'> <a' cis> <a cis> <a cis> } >> }$

History

The "Feuerfest!" (German for fireproof) polka was composed by Josef Strauss as a commission by the Wertheim company. Franz von Wertheim [de]'s company produced safes that were marketed as fireproof and Wertheim was known to demonstrate that particular claim by placing his safes in bonfires. The "Feuerfest!" polka was commissioned in 1869 to celebrate the highly successful company's 20'000th safe.^[1] The orchestral score includes an anvil which the percussionist strikes rhythmically with a hammer, recalling the making and solidity of the safe.

Vienna New Year's Concert

The polka was played at these Vienna New Year's Concerts:

1951 – Clemens Krauss
1962 – Willi Boskovsky
1968 – Willi Boskovsky
1971 – Willi Boskovsky
1982 – Lorin Maazel（with Vienna Boys' Choir）
1992 – Carlos Kleiber
1994 – Lorin Maazel
2012 – Mariss Jansons（with Vienna Boys' Choir）

References

^ "Feuerfest!", rundel.de, concert band arrangement by Siegfried Rundel [de] (in English)

External links

"Feuerfest!": Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
"Feuerfest!" on YouTube, Vienna Hofburg Orchestra, conductor: Giuseppe Montesano (Stadtpalais Liechtenstein, New Year's Concert 2018)

[1] "Feuerfest!", rundel.de, concert band arrangement by Siegfried Rundel [de] (in English)

[1]