Estudiantina

As many may be aware, Emile Waldteufel rivaled Johann Strauss II in the genre of the waltz. But unlike Strauss, many of Waldteufel's popular waltzes were arrangements of folk themes or themes by other composers. Such is the case with Waldteufel's Op. 191, a set of waltzes based on Paul Lacme's Spanish-styled duet Estudiantina (Band of Students). Since the waltz was to be in four continuous sections, Waldteufel drew on other sources for the last three sections: Lacme's Chanson d'automne (section two); the Spanish songs Jota de la Estudiantina and Tirana (section three); and De Cadiz al Puerto and El Tripili, (final section)