Vocal · 1936
By Strauss
George Gershwin
A comic waltz-song by George Gershwin that pokes affectionate fun at Vienna's waltz tradition while being, itself, an irresistible waltz.
What to listen for
The song is set squarely in waltz time, with a lilting, old-fashioned melody that could pass for an actual Viennese waltz if not for the knowing lyric riding on top of it. In the words, a character declares loyalty to the 'real thing' from old Vienna over the modern American songs of Gershwin's own day, a joke that works precisely because the music backing up that claim is so charmingly, convincingly old-world. With a vocal soloist carrying the melody, listen for the contrast between the lyric's dry, modern wit and the sincerely pretty waltz tune underneath it, a combination typical of the songwriting partnership between George Gershwin's music and his brother Ira's lyrics.
The story
George and Ira Gershwin wrote 'By Strauss' for the 1936 Broadway revue The Show Is On. It is a deliberate joke: an American songwriter, at the height of the jazz age, writing a lyric that dismisses jazz songs in favor of old Viennese waltzes, set to a tune that is itself a loving, well-crafted waltz. The song has remained a favorite encore piece for singers on orchestral pops programs, valued for its light touch and its playful nod to the very European tradition, embodied by composers like the Strauss family, that Gershwin's own music had helped push aside.
First time hearing it?
- A short vocal number, likely around 3 minutes, with orchestra.
- Listen for the joke: an American song dressed up as an old Viennese waltz.
- Stays in waltz time throughout, unlike much of Gershwin's jazz-influenced music.
- Works well as a light encore piece within a larger program.
Written by OrchestraFinder, reviewed September 2026.