The Blue Danube Waltz Cover Image

The Blue Danube Waltz: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$59.00 USD
Sale price  $59.00 USD Regular price 
Skip to product information
The Blue Danube Waltz Cover Image

The Blue Danube Waltz: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

By Johann Strauss, Jr. / arr. Richard Meyer

Grade: 2

Item: 00-47481

makemusic Cloud badge

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version
$59.00
Shipped

One moment…

Description
A beautiful arrangement by Richard Meyer of "Waltz Number 1," "Waltz Number 2," and the "Coda" from the original, set perfectly for the first full-orchestra experience. Perhaps the most widely popular composer of light classical music ever, Johann Strauss, Jr. wrote over 150 waltzes, bringing the form to perfection as an extended musical composition. The Blue Danube (the common English title of An der schonen blauen Donau---German for "By the Beautiful Blue Danube"), was composed in 1866 and was premiered in February of 1867. It has been one of the most popular classical pieces ever since. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Blue Danube Waltz: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
Additional Details
Series: Highland/Etling First Philharmonic
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 200
UPC: 038081544489
SKU: 00-47481

More about this title

About the Composer: Johannes Brahms

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899) earned the title "Waltz King" by composing over 150 waltzes that transformed the form from a simple dance into a sophisticated extended composition. His gift for memorable melody and orchestral color made him one of the most performed composers of the 19th century, and his work remains central to the concert repertoire across all ensemble levels.

Strauss's ability to write waltzes that are both musically substantial and immediately engaging made him invaluable to music educators. His pieces reward orchestral players with clear parts, grateful scoring, and melodies that motivate accurate intonation and ensemble balance.

Why we love this

Richard Meyer's arrangement captures everything that makes this masterpiece essential: the iconic melodies are front and center, the orchestration sits comfortably for players at the beginning of their full-orchestra journey, and the three-movement structure (two waltzes plus coda) provides natural pacing and shape. You get a piece your entire orchestra will enjoy learning and performing, with none of the technical obstacles that might cloud the musical experience.

What to expect

Elegant and effortless, with the gentle lilt of a ballroom where the music flows naturally from moment to moment. The melodies sing with warmth and clarity while the orchestral colors shift subtly beneath them, creating a sense of movement without urgency. You're drawn into a world of refinement and grace.

Who it's for

Full orchestras at the early Grade 2 level who are ready for something with genuine musical substance and lasting repertoire value. This is ideal for ensembles with developing section balance and intonation skills but growing confidence in reading and ensemble playing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the famous opening waltz melody with gentle dynamic swells rather than driving it forward; the accompaniment figures should breathe underneath rather than anchor a steady beat.
  • Balance the orchestration carefully so secondary melodic lines in the woodwinds don't overshadow the string writing, which carries the primary narrative throughout.
  • Let the coda breathe at its own tempo; resist the urge to rush the final cadential passages, which need time to settle into resolution.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a winter concert or formal event, where its elegance complements other selections. It also works beautifully as a contest or festival piece that showcases musicianship over virtuosity, giving adjudicators something genuine to evaluate at an accessible level.

Skills your students will build

  • Conducting and balancing a full four-section orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion)
  • Following extended three-part form (waltz one, waltz two, coda)
  • Sustaining consistent tempo across changing textures and orchestration
  • Reading at Grade 2 across multiple instrument types and clefs

You May Also Like