Homage to Queen Victoria of England - Waltz, Op.103

Johann Strauss I (1804-1849)

Homage to Queen Victoria of England - Waltz, Op.103

Another reason why the Strausses prevailed over their rivals is that they were always prepared to travel whereas the Lanners were not. Johann I, for example, made the first of his two visits to this country in 1838, when the many celebrations of Queen Victoria’s Coronation sustained a demand for his musical services through a tour lasting as long as six months or more. The most significant composition of that period was a waltz written in homage to the new Queen for her first State Ball at Buckingham Palace. The relevance of its semi-ceremonial introduction and, in spite of a little unavoidable rhythmic distortion, the source of the last of its generous medley of waltz tunes will be as clear to today’s audience as they were to the loyal subjects of Queen Victoria.