On the Beautiful Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II

In a recent post I was writing about good lyrics and lack thereof. As far as is known, many classical composers were getting themselves out of the situation by cooperating with great contemporary poets. However, there is another way: if no text is good enough, go all instrumental – unless you are composing operas, this usually works. What is curious, though, is that some works we are used to hear without any words whatsoever were originally featuring voice parts.

One such is The Blue Danube, a waltz written by Johann Strauss II. Chances are, if you would find this piece in a program of a concert you're going to attend, it would be performed in all its symphonic glory yet you wouldn't find any singers (at least on stage, in audience a few occasional ones may make an appearance). At that, lyrics for The Blue Danube were written shortly after the work was completed, and there is even an alternate text available. Find an arrangement for choir and piano here: On the Beautiful Blue Danube, and those of you who are used to what you are used to – watch a classic instrumental version below: