Perpetuum mobile (Perpetual Motion), Op. 257

Composer: STRAUSS JR., Johann
  • The subtitle for Perpetuum mobile (“Perpetual Motion”) is Ein Musikalischer Scherz (“A Musical Joke”).
  • Written in 1861, the short piece for orchestra premiered that same year in Vienna with the Strauss Orchestra conducted by the composer.1
  • The joke of the piece is twofold:
    • The composer is parodying the trend of the day where the virtuosity of individual members of the orchestra was given precedence over the cohesion and musicality of the work as a whole.
    • There is no clear ending to the piece – it just keeps going (hence the title). The score indicates “Fine ad lib.”
  • Fun fact – the theme of the piece, which is taken up in variation by various players of the orchestra, is only eight bars long.2

Sources

  1. “Perpetuum mobile, Op.257 (Strauss Jr., Johann),” IMSLP, accessed June 21, 2023, https://imslp.org/wiki/Perpetuum_mobile%2C_Op.257_(Strauss_Jr.%2C_Johann).
  2. Peter Kemp, Notes in accompanying booklet, STRAUSS II, J.: Edition – Vol. 30 performed by the Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alfred Walter, Naxos 8.223230, 1992, compact disc.

Cut IDs

49107 11905 14890 14123