Stories of the Danube

Stories of the Danube is a symphony based on the river Danube by Joe Zawinul, which was commissioned by the Brucknerhaus in Linz. It was first performed as part of the Linzer Klangwolke (a large-scale open-air broadcast event), for the opening of the 1993 Bruckner Festival in Linz, on September 12. In its seven movements (plus a finale), the symphony traces the course of the Danube from Donaueschingen through various countries ending at the Black Sea.

Stories of the Danube
Studio album by Joe Zawinul
Released	August 1996
Recorded	November 1995; February 1996
Studio	Dukla Radio Studio, Brno, Czech Republic (1995); The Music Room, NYC (1996)
Genre	Jazz
Label	Philips Records
Producer	Stan Taal, Wolfgang Winkler
Joe Zawinul chronology
Lost Tribes (1992) Stories of the Danube (1996) My People (1996)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Recording

The symphony was recorded as a studio album by the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Caspar Richter, at Dukla Radio Studio, Brno, in November 1995 and Music Room, New York City, in February 1996.

Track listing

1. "Beginning: In the depths of the forest a spring wells up: A river is born" – 5:49
2. "Mountain Waters: Waterfalls of melted snow cascade into the young river" – 3:30
3. "Empire: An impression of life in the reign of emperor Franz Joseph at the turn of the century" – 11:22
4. "Intro" – 3:52
5. "Gypsy: History of a free people without a home" – 7:35
6. "Voice of the Danube: On the riverbed, an imposing rock watches History" – 5:53
7. "Unknown Soldier: A stream of blood and violence: The Second World War" – 5:52
8. "Intro" – 4:26
9. "Sultan: 900 years of Ottoman Empire" – 7:59
10. "Finale: The nations of the Danube celebrate peace" – 2:33

Personnel

• Joe Zawinul - keyboards, vocals
• Caspar Richter - conductor
• Amit Chatterjee - guitar, vocals
• Burhan Öçal - percussion, vocals
• Arto Tunçboyacıyan - percussion, vocals
• Walter Grassman - drums
• Brno Philharmonic Orchestra