Rudolfsheimer, Polka schnell, Op. 152 - Josef Strauss

"Rudolfsheim". The rapid building-up of the area outside of the Mariahilfer Line resulted in the Vienna suburbs of Braunhirschen, Reindorf, and Rustendorf becoming a self-contained settlement area in the late 1850’s. Therefore, at the urging of the mayor of Braunhirschen, Benedikt Schallinger, these communities joined together to form a single town. On 4th December 1863, this consolidation was formally completed. The new town was given the name Rudolfsheim in honour of the then fifteen-year-old crown prince. Today, the fifteenth district of Vienna bears this name. In December 1863, there were quite naturally extensive celebrations of the creation of Rudolfsheim in the most important establishment of the area, Schwender’s. As Karl Schwender was giving invitations to a private ball in his establishment, Josef Strauss came up with a lively, playful polka. The name of the work could only be the Rudolfsheimer Polka. The publisher C. A. Spina was able to issue the instantly popular work by 20th January 1864. The polka continues to hold its place in the programmes of Viennese music to this day.

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Painting: Salmannsdorf, Am Dreimarkstein, Wien
Artist: Richard Moser
Date: 1908

Wiener Philharmoniker
Willi Boskovsky
Neujahrskonzert 1979