Feuerfest! ('Fireproof!'), Op. 269, is a

polka Polka is a dance style and genre of dance music in originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though generally associated with Czech and Central European culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the ...

-française composed by Josef Strauss in 1869.

History

The "Feuerfest!" (German for 'fireproof') polka was composed by Josef Strauss as a commission by the Wertheim company. 's company produced safes that were marketed as fireproof and Wertheim was known to demonstrate that particular claim by placing his safes in bonfires. The "Feuerfest!" polka was commissioned in 1869 to celebrate the highly successful company's 20,000th safe."Feuerfest!"
rundel.de, concert band arrangement by (in English) The

orchestration Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble, such as a concert band) or of adapting music composed for another medium for an orchestra. Also called "instrumentation", orch ...

includes an

anvil An anvil is a metalworking tool consisting of a large block of metal (usually Forging, forged or Steel casting, cast steel), with a flattened top surface, upon which another object is struck (or "worked"). Anvils are massive because the hi ...

, and at various points the score directs the percussionist to strike the anvil with a hammer, recalling the making and solidity of the safe.

Music

\relative c'

Incipit The incipit ( ) of a text is the first few words of the text, employed as an identifying label. In a musical composition, an incipit is an initial sequence of Musical note, notes, having the same purpose. The word ''incipit'' comes from Latin an ...

of a

piano reduction In music, a reduction is an arrangement or transcription of an existing score or composition in which complexity is lessened to make analysis, performance, or practice easier or clearer; the number of parts may be reduced or rhythm may be ...

Text

Most performances of the "Feuerfest!" polka are done without a choir, but the following text from Rudolf Effenberger has been used on several occasions by the Vienna Boys' Choir. Sagt der Amboss zu dem schweren Hammer: "Warum trifft mich denn dein Schlag so hart? Lieber Hammer, schau, beacht', bedenke, wir sind beide doch von gleicher Art." Dieses alte Sprichwort las ich einmal, und es kommt mir klug und weise vor, aufgeschrieben, schön und fein verzieret über einer Schmiede Tor. Und der Hammer sprach: "Wir beide sind ja von Eisen und von Stahl. Klopf' ich fest auf deinen Rücken, dann gibt es frohen Widerhall." Leuchtend rot und heiss erstrahlt es im Feuer, Blasebalg bläst ein. Und der Hammer, der schlägt drauf! Und der Amboss, der schreit auf! Schlag drauf mit aller Kraft, schlag mit dem Hammer drein! Das Eisen muss behauen sein. So schlägt der Hammer auf den Amboss, auf das heisse und das harte Eisen. Schlägt und klopft, dass die Funken fliegen, doch das heisse Eisenstück ist feuerfest! Am Werktag ist ein jeder Schmiedgesell verrusst, teufelschwarz hinein bis in das Fell. Die Hände, Haare, auch das Gesicht sieht man voller Russ, voller Staub fast nicht. Am Sonntag ist er sauber und rein, geputzt wie die grossen Herren fein. Im neuen Rock, die Schuhe frisch gelackt, so tanzt mit dem Mädel er im Polkatakt. Wie froh ist der Hammerschmiedgeselle wenn er den Hammer schwingt. Leuchten seine Augen helle, wenn hell das Eisen klingt. Mit Schwung wendet er das Eisen schnelle, damit es gut gelingt! Hat er es fertig dann kommt schon ein neues dran, lustig fängt er wieder dann zu hämmern an. Coda: Feuerfest! Klang! Klang! Klang! Says the anvil to the heavy hammer "Why does your beating hit me so hard? Dear hammer, please think about this, We are one of a kind." I read this old saying once, and it seems very wise to me, it was engraved and beautifully adorned above a smithy. The hammer said: "We are both made of iron, of steel. If I hit your backside hard, There is a lovely echo." Bright red and hot (the iron) shines in the fire, the bellows blow air. The hammer hits hard, The anvil screams in return. Hit with all your might, Hit with the hammer. The iron must be forged. And the hammer hits the anvil, Hits the hot and hard iron. Hits and beats so hard sparks fly, But the hot iron is fireproof. On a work day, each apprentice is black with soot all over his skin. Hands, hair, the entire face Obscured by soot and dust. On Sundays, he is clean and bright as a button, turned out like a gentleman. With a new coat, freshly polished shoes, He dances the polka with his girl. How happy is the smith's apprentice When he uses the hammer. His eyes shine At the clanging sound of the iron. He turns the iron over quickly, To ensure the best results. Once he is done He takes the next piece, And begins to hammer again cheerfully. Coda: Fireproof! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Vienna New Year's Concert

The polka was played at these Vienna New Year's Concerts: *1951 –

Clemens Krauss Clemens Heinrich Krauss (31 March 189316 May 1954) was an Austrian conducting, conductor and opera impresario, particularly associated with the music of Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss and Richard Wagner. He founded the Vienna New Year's Concert ...

*1962 – Willi Boskovsky *1968 – Willi Boskovsky *1971 – Willi Boskovsky *1982 –

Lorin Maazel Lorin Varencove Maazel (; March 6, 1930 – July 13, 2014) was an American conductor, violinist and composer. He began conducting at the age of eight and by 1953 had decided to pursue a career in music. He had established a reputation in t ...

（with Vienna Boys' Choir） *1992 –

Carlos Kleiber Carlos Kleiber (3 July 1930 – 13 July 2004) was a German-born Austrian conductor, who is widely regarded as among the greatest conductors of all time. The son of the conductor Erich Kleiber, he was particularly known for the Romantic rep ...

*1994 –

*2012 –

Mariss Jansons Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons (14 January 1943 – 1 December 2019) was a Latvian Conducting, conductor, best known for his interpretations of Gustav Mahler, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Strauss, and Russian composers such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, ...

(with Vienna Boys' Choir）

Social Dance choreography

Richard Powers Richard Powers (born June 18, 1957) is an American novelist whose works explore the effects of modern science and technology. His novel ''The Echo Maker'' won the 2006 National Book Award for Fiction.Vienna New Year's Concert, 2012,

Vienna Philharmonic Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; ) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. Its members are selected from the orchestra of ...

, Vienna Boys' Choir,

, conducting and playing the anvil {{DEFAULTSORT:Feuerfest Compositions by Josef Strauss Polkas 1869 compositions