Dance Music

Waltzes and Dance Collections

Four waltzes and two collections of dances are to be included in this part of the edition. Two of the waltzes, Seduzione and Adele have triple time (3/4) intros and five waltzes followed by a coda that reprises all five and closes grandly. Voluttà del ballo and Follie di donna have 6/8 intros that recall the grandest of the Strauss waltzes. Voluttà is the grandest of all the waltzes with six waltzes that are reprised in an elaborate coda. Ponchielli set many of Johann Strauss II's waltzes for the band; thus, the cremonese public could renounce Austrian rule but not the waltz.

Previously, the collection of dances from Carnival of 1866 was thought to have had dances from other composers included; however, recent inspection has shown them to all be original works by Ponchielli, reflecting an evening of dance that was popular in mid-nineteenth-century Cremona. Their popularity led them to be played in the weekly concerts on several occasions. Frenesia per il ballo is called a "polka by Ponchielli" on the frontispiece of the score; however, it is actually a shorter collection of dances similar to the "carnival" set. 

Adele, Op. 161, PP.143.15

Seduzione, Op. 133, PP.142.6

Follie di donna Walzer, Op. 122, PP.141.12

Voluttà del ballo, Op. 154, PP.95.8

Ricordanze del carnevale 1866, Op. 134, PP.142.7

Frenesia per il ballo - Pout- Pourri ballabile, Op. 158, PP.143.13