Immergrün, Polka Mazurka, Op. 88 - Josef Strauss

"Periwinkle". To commemorate the flower festival held on 19th June 1860 in the Volksgarten, Josef Strauss enriched his series of compositions named after plants and flowers with the graceful Polka Mazurka Immergrün. It is possible that there existed a link between this composition and the Immergrün social club, which was founded around that time. The members of this artists' society had chosen the periwinkle (Vinca Minor) as a symbol of durability and faithfulness for their association, because of its perennially green leaves. A less likely possibility is that Josef was inspired by the poem "Hold fast to what is destined for you" by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben. The Illustrator of the title page of the piano Edition of this Polka Mazurka, which appeared in July 1860 at Haslinger's, stuck to nature. In it, the periwinkle climbs up on an artfully decorated arched doorway.

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Painting: Periwinkle
Artist: Catherine Forshall

Slovak State Philarmonic Orchestra, Kosice
Michael Dittrich