Composer

:

Ernst von Dohnányi

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Waltz

Compose Date

:

1928

Publication Date

:

1930

Average_duration

:

5:59

Ernst von Dohnányi's 'Du und Du' is a set of variations for piano and orchestra based on the waltz 'Du und Du' from Johann Strauss II's operetta 'Die Fledermaus'. The piece was composed in 1949 and premiered on January 27, 1950, in Budapest, Hungary, with the composer as the soloist and the Hungarian State Orchestra conducted by Ferenc Fricsay. The work consists of six variations and a coda, each exploring different aspects of the original waltz. The first variation is a playful and virtuosic display of the piano's technical abilities, while the second variation features a lyrical and expressive melody in the strings. The third variation is a lively and rhythmic scherzo, followed by a fourth variation that showcases the woodwinds in a delicate and charming melody. The fifth variation is a dramatic and intense section, with the piano and orchestra engaging in a dialogue of contrasting themes and moods. The final variation is a triumphant and grandiose statement of the main theme, leading into a coda that brings the piece to a joyful and exuberant conclusion. Dohnányi's 'Du und Du' is characterized by its masterful orchestration, virtuosic piano writing, and inventive variations on the original waltz. The piece is a testament to the composer's skill in adapting and transforming existing material into a new and exciting work of art.

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