Novellen (''Legal Amendments''),
opus 146, is a
waltz composed by
Johann Strauss II
Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...
. The composition was dedicated to the law students of the
Vienna University
The University of Vienna (german: Universität Wien) is a public university, public research university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the Geogra ...
on the occasion of their ball held at the
Sofienbad-Saal in
Vienna on January 31, 1854. The work reflects Strauss's fascination for the 'revolutionary' orchestrations of
Wagner and
Meyerbeer. Due to this, the music critic
Eduard Hanslick
Eduard Hanslick (11 September 18256 August 1904) was an Austrian music critic, aesthetician and historian. Among the leading critics of his time, he was the chief music critic of the ''Neue Freie Presse'' from 1864 until the end of his life. H ...
was highly critical of the waltz, saying that "with their lengthy eight-bar motifs, their groaning diminished seventh and ninth chords,
ndthe thundering noise of their
trombones and
timpani,
heyare no longer appropriate for dancing.
References
Waltzes by Johann Strauss II
1854 compositions
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