Les Patineurs, Die Shlittschuhlaufer, Gli Pattinatori

Inspired by Le Cercle des Patineurs du Bois de Boulogne in Paris, this beautiful waltz composed in 1882 by Emile Waldteufel is perfect for a bright sunny cold Winter day watching the skaters on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. The other piece of music is an arrangement of Meyerbeer's music by Constant Lambert for the choreographer  Frederick Ashton, Les Patineurs, this version from a Japanese NHK TV production. This second piece I did not know of and it was brought to my attention by our friend D.N. in London.

This is what I saw today in front of our house. Lots of people skating along the 7.8 Km. The Canal is to Ottawa what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Something everyone in the Capital enjoys summer or winter.

I did not go to the other end of the skateway which ends at Dow's Lake, on a sunny winter day
its very nice.





Wandteufel, Les Patineurs

A waltz by Danish Composer Niels Wiggo Gade (1817-1890)

This wedding waltz I heard on Wyoming University Radio via the magic of the airport internet. We often listen at home to the radio station from Laramie, Wyoming. Never been there and all I know is that it is a small town.
This is a different sort of wedding waltz based on a Danish folk tale. It was played in 2004 at the wedding reception in Copenhagen of Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary, the couple dance as is the tradition for newlyweds in the presence of the Court and their parents Queen Margaret II of Danemark and Prince Henrik, a Frenchmen born Laborde de Monpezat.

A rather sweet affair and a little less stuffy than the British Court weddings as is Scandinavian style.

Here is a second offer of waltz music, this composition is entitled Très Joli by Emile Waldtuefel.
Strange name really Waldtuefel means Forest Devil.

Intermède musical, Emile Waldteufel, valse Flots de Joie, Auf Glückes Wogen

Brimming with joy, Flots de Joie, Auf Glückes Wogen

Emile Waldteufel (1837-1915) born to an Alsatian Family in Strasbourg, he went to study music in Paris and spent the rest of his life there. He had a very famous orchestra and was Court Pianist during the Second French Empire, often playing for Empress Eugénie. After 1870 he became a favourite of the French Presidents and often played at the Elysée Palace. He also had admirers in England in Queen Victoria and her son the Prince of Wales. His style is said to be more languid and anthem like very different than the style of Johann Strauss who was more robust in his waltz composition. Pianist are said to like Waldteufel's work because it is easier to play. He is well known for his most famous Skater's Waltz, a favourite in winter everywhere.