Old Waltzes - Waves of the Danube (Donauwellen) by Ion Ivanovici (1880) (Piano)

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There is nothing obscure about this waltz. What is obscure is the composer, who had he not written this waltz, would have been completely forgotten today.

Ion (sometimes known as Josef or Iosif) Ivanovici (1845 – 1902) was a Romanian musician and composer in the military. He spent his career as a bandmaster in the Romanian Army and attained the position of Inspector of Military Music. He was a fairly prolific composer, having composed more than 350 pieces, but none are remembered today except for his Danube Waves. His style is similar to Johann Strauss but with a Gypsy flavor. His obscurity after his death was attributed to the relative isolation of his country and the fact that he became out of favour with the authorities after his death.

Waves of the Danube is one of the most popular waltzes today, and the theme of the first waltz is possibly one of the best known melodies in the world. The waltz was first published in 1880 in Romania, and later orchestrated by Emile Waldteufel. It is also known in the US as The Anniversary Song, in Korea as "In Praise of Death" (the first popular song in Korea) and "The Wedding Waltz" with Yiddish lyrics. The melody was also very popular in China from the 1960s.

Waves of Danube comprises 4 waltzes flanked by an introduction and a finale (coda). Both the introduction and the finale opens with tumultuous chords. The famous Danube melody is first heard in the introduction in its Gypsy form. Each waltz comprises two contrasting sections, and throughout, one can hear the Romanian or Gypsy flavour in what is essentially a Viennese Waltz.