Isaac Strauss, Figaro-Revue

Isaac Strauss was born in Strasbourg, the principal city on the French side of the Rhine river, and was active in Paris. A skilled Conservatoire-trained violinist, he took up conducting and became very successful (and also wealthy). He wrote original music but also many arrangements for dance and concert, including the Figaro-Revue for piano four-hands based on tunes by the younger composer Marius Boullard. Isaac Strauss was no relation to the Vienna Strausses.

The design is that of a quadrille, five parts with the traditional names (Pantalon, etc.), to which Strauss has added another whimsical title. The two of interest to us are n2 (Éte; Le Cigare) and n4 (Pastourelle; Le Mur de la Vie privée).

As in a few earlier instances on this blog, I have collated the prima and secunda parts. At the beginning, ^3 has the better of the cover tone ^5. Note the lower neighbor (interruption) at phrase end and the doubling of ^3 in the secunda part -- at (a). In the second phrase, however, the cover tone suddenly comes alive and takes over -- at (b) -- while ^3 descends in the secunda part, right hand.

In n4, a pattern of thirds puts the focus on ^5 and thus the ascent in the cadence is not much of a surprise. Note that the voice splits as F6 moves down in inner voices.