Freuet euch des Lebens

Cover of the piano score

Freuet euch des Lebens (Enjoy Life), Op. 340, is a Viennese waltz composed by Johann Strauss II. It was written for the Vienna Musikverein, and premiered at the new Musikverein building in Vienna in 1870.[1]

Waltz 1

 \relative c' {
  \new PianoStaff <<
   \new Staff { \key g \minor \time 3/4
    \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t
     \tempo "" 2. = 64
    <<
   {
      f'( d f) f( d f)( g2.~) g2 g4 a( d, a') g( c, g') g2.~ g2 f4 s\< s s s s s g2.~ g2\!
   }
    \\
   {
     d4 bes d d bes <d f,> <g, d'>2.~ <g d'>2 g4 a2 a4 g2 g4 <a ees'>2.~ <a ees'>2 ees'4 <ees f>^( c <ees f>) <d f>^( b <d f>)^( ees2.~) ees
   }
    >>
   }
   \new Dynamics {
    s\p
      }
   \new Staff { \key g \minor \time 3/4 \clef bass
      bes,,4 <f' bes d> <f bes d> f, <f' bes d> <f bes d> bes, <f' bes d> <f bes d> f, <f' bes d> <f bes d> bes, <f' bes d> <f bes d> f, <f' bes d> <f bes d> bes, <f' a ees'> <f a ees'> f, <f' a ees'> <f a ees'> a, <f' c' ees> <f c' ees> gis,4 <f' b d> <f b d> a, <f' c' ees> <f c' ees> f, <f' c' ees> <f c' ees>
   }
  >>
 }

Influence[edit]

In the opening movement of his Ninth Symphony, Gustav Mahler quotes from this waltz.[2]

Vienna New Year's Concert[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Strauss II, J.:Waltzes, Polkas, Marches and Overtures". NaxosDirect. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  2. ^ Barford, Philip (1971) Mahler Symphonies and Songs, London: BBC Publications, ISBN 9780563092742, p. 55.

External links[edit]