2025: 200th Anniversary of Birth: Johann Strauss (*25.10.1825 in St. Ulrich / Vienna)
In 2025 Vienna celebrates the 200th birthday of one of the city’s most famous sons, the undisputed popstar of classical dance music in general and the waltz in particular: Johann Strauss II. The waltz is quintessential Viennese music: played in the biggest concert halls, danced to at the city’s many balls, frantically celebrated and even considered cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
Vienna is still full of memories of Johann Strauss: places where he lived and worked as well as monuments that remind of him. If you listen carefully you’ll hear his tunes ringing in the Viennese air, for example the city’s secret anthem – The Blue Danube. Of course, as a Viennese Festival we will walk, move and dance in ¾ in 2025 as well.
Johann Strauss wrote his first waltz aged six and his life’s work includes almost 500 dance compositions – somewhat ironical considering he wasn’t a keen dancer himself at all. His compositions – although deemed “lightweight” by some fun-negating naysayers – were admired by “serious” contemporaries like Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Wagner.
Strauss’ music with its impeccable, catchy melodies and fine arrangements is eternally youthful in its spirit: light-headed, enthusiastic and sweet. Music for the time when we experience freedom and simplicity as much as a yearning to find out what comes next on our journey through life.
As a youth music festival we celebrate this very spirit of youthhood. And we celebrate Johann Strauss’ life and music in 2025. Let’s do so together!
SCL 2025
The festival will take place: 2025, July 4 - 9
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Registration SCL Festival Registration for the SCL Festival (live) is open until: February 15th 2025. |
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More information about the application Plan your experience of a lifetime - the SCL Festival team is looking forward to welcoming you! |
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 We have a special Summa Cum Strauss surprise coming up in cooperation with Johann Strauss 2025 Wien! Stay tuned! |
Compulsory pieces 2025
CHOIRS:
Mixed Choir:
| George Chung (*1986): | “Voici mon secret” (02:10) | |
| https://cypresschoral.com/composers/george-chung/voice-mon-secret/ |
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| Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847): | From “Gartenlieder” (op. 3): 5. Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald (01:45) |
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| www.doblinger.at/en/Gartenlieder-op.-3/167166 | ||
Treble Choir:
| Arvo Pärt (*1935): | "Zwei Beter" (05:00) | |
| www.stretta-music.com/paert-zwei-beter-nr-313829.html | ||
Male Choir:
| Béla Bartók (1881-1945): | "Four old hungarian folk songs" (03:30) | |
| www.universaledition.com/4-old-hungarian-folksongs-for-male-choir-ttbb-choir-a-cappella-bartok-bela-ue8891 |
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Children’s Choir (up to the age of 12):
| Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016): | Seven Songs Home 1. Home-time at last (1:50) |
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| www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Maxwell-Davies-Peter-Seven-Songs-Home-SAA/603337 |
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| Michael Praetorius (1571–1621): | Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (01:45) | |
| www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Praetorius-Michael-Es-ist-ein-Ros-entsprungen-female-choir-SSA/2137054 | ||
ORCHESTRAS:
Symphony Orchestra:
| Johann Strauss, the Son (1825 - 1899): | Frühlingsstimmen Walzer („Voices of Spring“) (06:30) | |
| (full score & instrumental parts): www.breitkopf.com/work/6431/fruhlingsstimmen-op-410 harp voice ad libitum – no point deductions from the jury if an orchestra doesn’t feature a harp |
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Chamber Orchestra with Winds:
| Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934): | Salut d‘amour (04:45) | |
| (full score & instrumental parts): docs.google.com/document/d/1o0kSA9oIRmkFdICkhsmg8n_AhFb0uQb4FSlAT9PLAPw/edit?usp=sharing | ||
String Orchestra:
| Johann Strauss, the Son (1825 - 1899), Josef Strauss (1827 – 1870): |
Pizzicato Polka (03:00) | |
| (full score & instrumental parts): www.breitkopf.com/work/6438/pizzicato-polka |
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| Josef Suk (1881-1945): | Serenade for Strings Op. 6, 1st Movement Andante con moto (05:00) | |
| (full score & instrumental parts): www.stretta-music.com/suk-serenade-es-dur-op-6-nr-161421.html | ||
BANDS:
| Søren Hyldgaard (1962-2019): | "Hans Christian Andersen Suite. Adventures for Concert Band": 1. & 2. Movements (Arr. Johan de Meij) (08:00) |
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| (full score & instrumental parts): www.hebu-music.com/en/article/soren-hyldgaard/amstel-music/hans-christian-andersen-suite.164404/ | ||
SUMMA ENSEMBLES:
| Johann Strauss, the Son (1825 - 1899): | Fata Morgana (04:00) | |
| Summa Ensembles will perform the compulsory piece in a format and instrumentation adapted to the respective performing ensemble, while staying as faithful to the original composition as possible needs. A full score can be found here: www.stretta-music.at/strausssohn-fata-morgana-op-330-nr-304994.html |
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Choir - Workshop Pieces 2025:
All choirs taking part in the Competition are asked to prepare their compulsory piece(s) for the first workshop. For the second workshop, the workshop lecturer may choose a piece from your competition or additional concert program or another piece suitable for your respective category.
For all choirs taking part in the Celebration: The workshop lecturer may choose pieces from your program or other pieces suitable for your respective category.
Orchestra - Workshop Pieces 2025:
All orchestras taking part in the Competition are asked to prepare their respective compulsory piece for the first workshop. For the second workshop, please select one piece from the list of your respective category. You may also choose a piece from your competition or additional program. This piece, however, needs to be confirmed by the Artistic Director.
All orchestras taking part in the Celebration are invited to prepare two pieces from the list of your respective category. You may also choose (a) piece(s) from your program. However, this/these need to be confirmed by the Artistic Director.
Symphony Orchestra:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93, IV. Allegro vivace
Hector Berlioz: Béatrice et Bénédict: Overture
Ludwig van Beethoven: One movement from 1st, 2nd, 4th or 5th Symphony
Ludwig van Beethoven: One movement from Egmont, Coriolan or Fidelio Overture
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38, 3rd movement, Scherzo Molto Vivace
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphony No. 3 in a minor Op. 56 (“Scottish”), 2nd movement, Vivace non troppo
Antonín Dvořák: Slavonic Dances No. 3 and 8
Chamber Orchestra:
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D major I. Adagio – Allegro or IV. Finale: Spiritoso
Franz Schubert: One movement from Symphony No. 5 in B flat major (D 485)
Joseph Haydn: One movement from Symphony No. 43 in E flat major Hob.I: 43 (“Mercury”)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: One movement from Symphony Nr. 29 in A major, KV 201
Béla Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances
String Orchestra:
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Sinfonia No. 4 in C minor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: One movement from Divertimento KV 136 or KV 137 or 138
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Josef Suk: One movement from Serenade for Strings in E flat-major Op. 6
Edvard Grieg: One movement from Holberg Suite
Béla Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances
Johann Sebastian Bach: 3. Brandenburgisches Konzert, 1st movement
Georg Friedrich Händel: One movement from Concerto grosso Op. 6 / No. 5 in D major
Band - Workshop Pieces 2025:
All bands taking part in the Competition are asked to prepare the compulsory piece for the first workshop. For the second workshop, you may choose a piece from your competition or additional program. This piece needs to be confirmed by the Artistic Director.
All bands taking part in the Celebration may choose pieces from their Musikverein program and/or additional concert program. These pieces need to be confirmed by the Artistic Director.
Summa Ensemble - Workshop Pieces 2025:
All Summa Ensembles taking part in the Competition shall prepare the compulsory piece for the first workshop. For the second workshop, you may choose a piece from your competition additional program. This piece needs to be confirmed by the Artistic Director.
All Summa Ensembles taking part in the Celebration may choose pieces from their Musikverein program and/or additional concert program. These pieces need to be confirmed by the Artistic Director.
Inspiration: Film Music
As the festival wants to encourage ensembles to include film music into their repertoire, we have compiled a list of suggestions. The following pieces are not compulsory and celebration groups are also welcome to draw inspiration from the list!
| Mixed Choir: | From "Home Alone": Mykola Leontovich (1877 - 1921) - Carol of the Bells www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/carol-of-the-bells-sheet-music/3555974 (This piece can be sung in numerous different languages, the ensembles are free to choose) |
| Treble Choir / Children’s Choir: | From "Les Choristes": Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764) - Hymne à La Nuit www.stretta-music.com/rameau-rille-hymne-a-la-nuit-nr-461456.html From "Som i Himlen" (As it is in heaven): Stefan Nilsson (*1955) - Gabriellas Sång (with piano) www.stretta-music.com/en/nilsson-baeckman-wallenaes-gabriellas-saang-nr-447115.html |
| Male Choir: | From "Som i Himlen" (As it is in heaven): Stefan Nilsson (*1955) - Gabriellas Sång (with piano) www.stretta-music.com/en/baeckman-nilsson-caplin-gabriellas-saang-nr-498423.html |
| Symphony Orchestra: | From "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade": John Williams (*1932): Scherzo For Motorcycle and Orchestra www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/scherzo-for-motorcycle-and-orchestra-from-indiana-jones-and-the-last-crusade-sheet-music/20109754 |
