Choral Waltzes and Polkas

The Chorale’s final event of the season begins with Johannes Brahms’ first set of “love song waltzes”, Liebeslieder walzer.  These charming choral waltzes incorporate light-hearted poetry and folk songs about love, sure to entertain and inspire.  Though Johannes Brahms did not write many waltzes, his fondness for them is evident in these enchanting works.

The program concludes with the Liebeslieder Polkas of P.D.Q. Bach, the alter-ego of Peter Schickele.  These polkas are an extremely light-hearted attempt to honor Brahms and his original waltzes.  (So extreme that it would be perfectly acceptable to giggle during the polkas!)  It is astonishing how contrasting yet somehow similar these two works are.