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Ein Wiener in New York (A Viennese in New York ) Plot: First Movement We experience the fate of an emigrant as he walks along Broadway on an eerie night. Everything appears as if washed away. The heart of this gigantic city is coming to life, the colossal traffic moves in a stomping rhythm. Our emigrant tries to save his small life from this turbulence. He discovers, far from the monster of the city, a small grassy area with park bench and sits down, exhausted. A violin cadence leads over to the: Second Movement A Negro spiritual sounds out from nearby Harlem and begins to touch our emigrant's heart. Memories of and desire for his home city of Vienna flame up within him. As in the first movement when two citations repeatedly flashed (Blaue Donau and Yankee Doodle), the heart of our Viennese begins to beat longingly. But humor prevails and he smiles at his excessive sadness. A piano cadence again picks apart the Viennese and New York existence in the soul of the emigrant and leads over to the: Third Movement The emigrant begins to dance in true 'Bohemian style' and does not notice as he nears an American dance bar. Here they laugh at his old-fashioned dancing and the rhythm of the time overpowers the Viennese emigrant as well. Melody and rhythm unite into a TRIUMPH OF JAZZ. |