Ländler Music & Dance
If you ever watched Sound of Music, then I'm sure you vividly remember The Captain & Maria dancing something out on the patio. That something was THE LÄNDLER, music in 3/4 time.
Here is what wikipedia says about the Ländler music & dance:
The ländler is a folk dance in 3/4 time which was popular in Austria, south Germany and German Swistzerland at the end of the 18th century.
It is a dance for couples which strongly features hopping and stamping. It was sometimes purely instrumental and sometimes had a vocal part, sometimes featuring yodeling.
When dance halls became popular in Europe in the 19th century, the ländler was made quicker and more elegant, and the men shed the hobnail boots which they wore to dance it. Along with a number of other folk dances from Germany and Bohemia, it is thought to have contributed to the evolution of the waltz.
A number of classical compo0sers wrote or included ländler in their music, including Ludwig von Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Anton Bruckner. In several of his symphonies Gustav Mahler replaced the scherzo with a ländler. The Carinthian folk tune quoted in Alban Bert's Violin Concerto is a ländler, and another features in Act II of his opera Wozzeck. The "German Dances" of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn also resemble ländler. Britten's Peter Grimes features a Ländler in the scene where a dance night is occurring in the Hall.
The movie The Sound of Music features a scene where the protagonists Maria and Captain von Trapp dance a ländler; however, it is not a traditional but a choreographed form. The instrumental tune used in that sequence is a slowed-down re-arrangement of a song heard earlier in the film, "The Lonely Goatherd".
Because the music is in 3/4 time, I've decided to learn to dance the LÄNDLER. I'm wondering, if anyone else knows how to dance the LÄNDLER & I'm really wondering when André will feature the LÄNDLER, with dancers, perhaps from the orchestra.
The LÄNDLER a dance that originated in Austria & yet in all of André's DVD's people only waltz during a waltz, never does anyone dance the LÄNDLER .....both move to 3/4 time.
- I wonder if André would recognize the LÄNDLER , if people in the audience danced it during a waltz
- I wonder if Austrians still know how to do the LÄNDLER
- I wonder if Austrians would recognize the LÄNDLER , if they saw someone dancing it
- I wonder if I dance the LÄNDLER , here in America if I would be part of the very first couple to do the LÄNDLER during a waltz at an André concert
- I wonder if André featured the LÄNDLER during a concert if that would re-popularize the LÄNDLER in Austria & elsewhere, as he has done with the waltz
- I wonder if André would select two musicans in the JSO to come out of their chairs & begin dancing the LÄNDLER , hopefully, 2 JSO members that haven't already been featured in prior DVD's.
Here is a link to instruction for those interested in learning the LÄNDLER
Please add your thoughts, comments, & observations regarding this beautiful dance.
southpawbc-andre@yahoo.com
I absolutely adore this movie. The Landler scene is one of my favourites. I have always loved folk dancing. I would be very interested to see a video of the complete dance.
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If André had a guy in the orchestra get out of their chair & ask a female musican to dance the Ländler , I'd hope it is Cord Peters (violin), asking Jöelle (cello). Jöelle is a clog dancer, so I know she likes to dance. Neither have been featured in a DVD & both have been with André for a very long time.
I am definitely planning to learn to Ländler so I can dance it during a waltz when André & the JSO return to Phoenix, Arizona in Dec 2010.
I amuses me to think an American may dance the Ländler in front of André before an Austrian does.
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I just love this dance. The first time I saw it was on "The Sound of Music". I loved how when you see the dance started in the courtyard, in the background you can see the guests dancing the same through the doorway. Its just beautiful!Thank you for starting this discussion
Christine (Australia)
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I never noticed the guests dancing the Ländler , same as the Captain & Maria until last night. You are a very observant person, Christine
Do you know how to dance the Ländler , Christine?
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Hi Bill
No,unfortunately I don't know how to
dance it but would like to learn.
I found it very interesting that the actual instrumental that Maria and the captain danced the Landler to was a slowed down version of 'The Lonely Goatherd'-I didn't know that before.Strangely enough about one month ago I purchased a very old music book in a second hand shop with 'The Landler'
in it(that was why I bought it)and the tune wasn't the same as the one on the movie and now I know why. Thank you so much for the information
Christine
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I have always loved that part of the movie, where the Captain danced the Landler with Maria. Very Romantic !
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I have the 40th Anniversary Edition of "Sound of Music" which includes extras with all the children, now adults, talking & recalling things they remember during the shooting of the movie. They say something about the dance & how sexy they thought it was, as children.
The extras also include in interview with Christopher Plummer & Julie Andrews.
The 7 children apparently became life long friends & they, to this day, keep in regular contact with each other.
The extras is the reason I bought the 40th Anniversary Edition. The extras met & exceeded by wildest expectations. This particular edition is a MUST HAVE , for anyone that loves "Sound of Music"
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I remember the scene in Sound of Music.I'm sure Andre is familiar with this dance as he has probably watched the move too.I like the dance done to the original music, not sure if it would work with just any waltz tune, could be. We have a festival around here in Friestatt, a German festival, in the fall. besides polkas they have played this landler dance, it's usually to a slower tempo & it's very lovely to watch the couples dance it. I never tried it myself. I know it's sometimes popular at weddings. one of my favorites on you tube, because you can see it clearly is :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGfJvpcP9uQ%am987�ature=relatedgood luck with your dance lessons Bill.
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André danced the Ländler with Barbara Wussow in his TV performance : "Zauber der Musik" in Salzburg in 2OO1, exactly the one from Sound of Music .
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Hello Inge, i have missed you. you are right, I'd forgotten about that one. Barbara was wearing a pink gown and Andre unwound part of it so it was just a dress.That was a lovely dance they did.So, I guess that answers Bill's question about Andre knowing the dance. While I'm at it, do you know the name of the tenor who sang Va Penserio? He was very handsome.
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Hi Inge,
Thanks you for making such a significant contribution to this topic. Indeed, you did answer my question about whether or not André knows about or has ever danced the Ländler .
Now for the biggie. How or where could I obtain a copy of "Zauber der Musik"? I would love to see André dancing the Ländler , it would be something I'd enjoy watching over & over.
Obviously, he would immediately recognize anyone dancing the Ländler
southpawbc-andre@yahoo.com
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Hi Shirley, that singer was ERKAN AKI.
In the second "Zauber der Musik" in Maastricht 2OO2 André dances with Barbara the clog dance and in 2OO3 the 3rd "Zauber der Musik" he dances with Barbara a Viennese Waltz to the left and the right as they do as débutantes in the Opera Ball.
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Hi Inge! You have such a wealth of information!
**And... I have missed you! It is so good to see you again, how are your mini's?
HUGS & Kisses !!
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hi andre mum and i love your music and we hope to see you on the 15th of oct at the acer arena love narelle roberts
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I should have known André was already well versed in the Ländler .
I only hope 2 people don't find out the questions I've been asking:
André ....I'm sure he is far to busy to be cognizant of this topic or my questions, unless someone rats on me
Kati...the Spelling & Punctuation Assistant Chief of Police. If Kati finds out, I have no doubt my life in jeapordy, or at the very least, quite likely to be deluged with a volley of snowballs, for doubting André's expertise on the Ländler
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Well Bill, I have the 3 "Zauber der Musik " on Video only, but I will soon get them made into DVDs because they are my favorites and DVDs last longer. When I have that done, I could make you a copy, but you have to be patient, I have at the moment more pressing things to do, like renovating my bathroom.
Hi Sally, I have been in Germany for a while and when I came back my 2O year old Kitty Moise was so ill. He was on medication since 2 years and I knew that it will be only a matter of time, but he refused to eat and just slept in. He did not suffer, according to the vet, but he left us and it hurts, I do not have to tell you, so I was a little depressed and of my 5 cats I have only one left. Hope I have her a few more years, she is now 12.
In Germany I went to a big Miniature show and bought a lot that will keep me busy over the winter and on Sept. l4th I went with my daughter Jutta to Bamberg the André concert, took pics and it was nice to hear him speak German again.
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Hi Inge, so nice to hear from you, I really missed you and was hoping you would come back to see us. I am so sorry about your kitty. I know what you are going through. Let's hope and pray that the one you have left has many more years with you.
Thanks for bringing us up to date on your miniatures and glad you got to a concert. Please come back and keep us informed. Big Hugs
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Bill your Entry has created so much intrest, other sites are now starting to talk about it. Remember the video we talked about in 2006 & 2007? Finally others have it and are showing it. You are leading the way again. Thanks for putting this up. The Landler is a fantastic dance! And it is a favorite scene of mine in the Sound of Music, my all time favorite movie.
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I would also like to say thank you to Bill. It has been really wonderful reading these discussions about the Landler. I have never come across other people who also have the same interest in this part of the movie which I find really nice. The Sound of Music has been my favourite movie of all time and it seems that part of Andre's appeal he has embraced the music, costumes, romance, and so much more on a much more grander scale 1000 times over.
3 generations of my family are going to see him tonight in Sydney and we are so excited!
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Dear Christine,
Everyone is waiting for your detailed concert going experience & to see your photos
Send me an email with an attachment of your photos to either:
sally@andrerieufans.com
southpawbc-flickr@yahoo.com
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Hi Bill
I have just sent something to the above email. My apologies for the delay.
Christine
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Hi Christine, I happen to be up late, and I phoned Bill .. as he was just home from work. He loved the story and photos, and so do I ! No need to apologize.
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Hi Sally
Thank you Sally for being so understanding
Christine
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