"A Thousand Flowers". During the Summer of 1855, while Johann Strauss was away on holiday in Bad Gastein in Salzburg, his brother Josef had to substitute for him as conductor of the Strauss orchestra in Vienna. Since ‘Jean’ remained in Bad Gastein until far into September, the task of composing the generally expected dedications for the traditional Hernals church festival (celebrated on 26th and 27th August 1855 in Unger’s) fell to Josef, as it had before, during the summer of 1853. Josef chose the Garden Festival with Ball on 27th August 1855 for the première of these works: the waltz Flinserln, Op. 5, and the Mille fleurs-Polka. The ball began at 6:00 p.m. It is likely that the festival experienced weather disturbances, because the Morgen-Post of 28th August reported: "The thunderstorm last night was one of the most terrible in a long time. There were hailstones the size of hazelnuts."

On 1st September, the casino-owner Franz Unger announced a celebration for the following day. The Strauss orchestra and both novelties were again featured on the concert programme. On 5th September, the Theater-Zeitung printed a general critique of Josef Strauss’s activities during the summer season. About his compositions, including the Mille fleurs-Polka, it stated that each performance "received a thunderous and enthusiastic response". Furthermore, the journalist said, "It would be desirable if these new creations by Josef Strauss, which contain a plethora of piquant and original melodies, were published".

This wish was fulfilled in February 1856, when the first nine works by Josef Strauss appeared at C.A. Spina’s. Of the Mille fleurs-Polka, however, only the piano edition remains, the title page of which depicts a thousand flowers.

Painting: Unnamed
Artist: Beatrice Emma Parsons

Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra
Christian Pollack