Brausteufelchen, Polka schnell, Op. 154

Program notes

About the Work

Brausteufelchen (‘Little Fizzing Devil’) is a quick polka by Eduard Strauss, the youngest of the three Strauss brothers and the one most associated with the fast, fizzing polka schnell. The whimsical title, conjuring a tiny, effervescent imp, perfectly captures the genre’s character: brisk, sparkling, and over almost before it has begun. Eduard built much of his reputation on exactly this kind of piece, which he conducted at the head of the Strauss Orchestra. The polka schnell (‘fast polka’) is a New Year’s Concert favourite precisely because of its breathless gaiety, and it provides a welcome jolt of speed between the more expansive waltzes. Like much of Eduard’s output it is light entertainment of the highest craft, designed to delight rather than to instruct.

What to Listen For

Speed and sparkle are the whole point. Listen for the scurrying string figures and pert woodwind interjections that suggest the darting ‘little devil’ of the title, and for the abrupt dynamic contrasts and cheeky accents that pepper the dance. There is the usual contrasting trio in the middle before the opening material races back, and the piece ends as briskly as it began, a momentary burst of fireworks.