Malapou-Galoppe, Op. 148

Program notes

About the Work

The Malapou-Galoppe is a brief, high-spirited dance from Joseph Lanner, the older master whose graceful, lyrical style helped invent the Viennese waltz tradition that the Strauss family would carry to its zenith. The galop, a fast duple-time round dance that swept the European ballrooms of the 1820s and 1830s, was a staple of Lanner’s output, offering a breathless contrast to his more refined waltzes. Pieces like this were written for immediate use on the dance floor, and their charm lies in their compactness and forward drive rather than in elaborate development. Lanner appears only rarely at the New Year’s Concert, and this galop was new to it in 2026, so its inclusion is a graceful nod to the founding generation of Viennese dance music, the world from which the Strausses emerged.

What to Listen For

This is short and quick, a burst of energy among the longer waltzes. Listen for the galloping duple rhythm that gives the dance its name, the bright orchestration, and the contrasting central trio section that offers a moment’s lyrical relief before the headlong music returns. Lanner’s writing is lighter and more transparent than the later Strauss style, a window onto the waltz’s earlier, more innocent youth.