Pizzicato Polka

The Pizzicato Polka was composed in 1869 and ranks among the most sonically inventive miniatures to come from the pen of Johann Strauss (son). The work dispenses entirely with bowing — every note is plucked — creating a sparkling, feather-light tapestry of sound that underscores the dance-like character of the polka in a particularly witty way. The score exists in the composer's original orchestration for string orchestra.

The piece stands as a prime example of Viennese light music in the second half of the 19th century, which, under the influence of the Strauss dynasty, developed into a genre in its own right with considerable artistic demands. Johann Strauss was a master at unfolding surprising sonic ideas within what appeared to be narrow genre boundaries — the Pizzicato Polka is a particularly striking case in point.

The rigorous restriction to a single playing technique lends the work an unmistakable homogeneity of sound. The use of pizzicato as the sole means of expression is said to have captivated audiences from the very first performance, and the piece went on to become one of the most beloved showpieces in the string orchestra repertoire.