The Blue Danube (Johann Strauss II)

• flexible instrumentation

  • Grade 3

• ca. 6:30 (with repeats); ca. 4:30 (without repeats/1st endings)

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Program Notes

Composed by Johann Strauss II. Arranged by Ian Deterling.

• The Blue Danube (An Der schönen, blauen Donau) was written by Austrian composer Johann Strauss II (1825-1899). Originally composed in 1867 as a choral piece, Strauss adapted the piece for orchestra the same year. Known as the “waltz king,” The Blue Danube is one of Strauss’s best known works and features five different waltz themes linked one after another. This light-hearted work has been used in various films and television shows, making it become one of the world’s most recognizable pieces of music.

• I made a number of alterations to make this piece more accessible for younger musicians:

  • The entire piece is transposed down a whole step (now it begins in concert C and ends in concert G).

  • The original has seven different key changes (with it transposed down, the key centers are C, G, C, Ab, C, F, Eb, and G). Instead of frequent key changes, the first seven key centers are written with the same key signature (concert C) with any needed accidentals. I kept the key change for the last section of concert G.

  • I wrote additional percussion parts (if you have a percussion section that you need to keep busy!)

  • There are many recordings of the original that have similar tempo changes. These changes aren't explicitly written in the score, so I included some in this arrangement (acce., rit., rall., più mosso, meno mosso....)

  • There are many repeats in this piece that can be omitted for a shorter performance:

    • With repeats: about 6'00"

    • Without repeats: about 4'30"

• This arrangement of 'The Blue Danube' by Strauss is arranged into five parts plus percussion. The instrumentation is as follows:

  • Part 1 - Flute; Oboe; Bb Clarinet; Bb Trumpet; Violin

  • Part 2 - Bb Clarinet; Bb Trumpet; Eb Alto Saxophone; Violin

  • Part 3 - Bb Tenor Saxophone; Bb Clarinet; Eb Alto Saxophone; F Horn; Viola

  • Part 4 - Bb Tenor Saxophone; Euphonium (bass and treble clef); F Horn; Trombone; Bassoon; Cello

  • Part 5 - Euphonium (bass and treble clef); Bb Bass Clarinet; Baritone Saxophone; Trombone; Bassoon; Cello; Contrabass; Tuba

  • Percussion

    • Percussion 1 - Snare Drum; Bass Drum

    • Percussion 2 - Tambourine; Triangle; Crash Cymbals

    • Mallet Percussion

    • Timpani (2 or 3 drums)

• Score and complete set of parts.