In the course of the 19th century, Glinka, Tchaikovsky and other composers contributed to the development of the Russian concert waltz, which eventually achieved a remarkable expressiveness. Apart from that, there always has been the (dance) waltz with its „happy minor mode”, which undoubtedly is firmly rooted in the Russian people. The (dance) waltz has always been a musical realm of the military band. In a becoming way, Russian military bands pay musical tribute to the waltz in many of their concerts. It was also recorded on LPs, which eventually made their way to the West already many years ago.

Pavel Stanék did not tell us, what the source of inspiration was for his „Russian Waltz”. There is no doubt that he succeeded in composing one of those charming (dance) waltzes, which are happy and melancholic at the same time. The audience loves this music, and for many bands it opens a new field in the repertory of fine entertaining works.

The „Russian Waltz” reveals some of the special traits of Stanék’s musical output: he strives for an easily accessible musical expression on the basis of melodic ingenuity, coupled with the right feeling for musical form, and by employing the entire range of orchestral colors.