Johann Strauss II, often referred
to as Johann Strauss, Jr., was born in St. Ulrich near Vienna on October 25th,
1825. His father, Johann Strauss I, was already an established composer of
light music. Strauss Sr., however, wishing his son not to endure the rigors and
hardships of a musician's life, predestined his son to become a banker instead
of a composer. Strauss Jr., on the other hand, did not heed his father's
wishes. He studied violin in secret with the principal violinist of his
father's orchestra. When his father learned of these clandestine lessons,
Strauss Jr. received a severe punishment. In what could be considered a
fortunate turn of events, Strauss Sr. left the family for a mistress and young
Strauss was able to fully pursue a career in music with the support of his
mother.
Strauss, however, faced many
difficulties in establishing himself as a composer in no small part to the
reputation of his father. Many entertainment establishments were unwilling to
offer the younger Strauss an opportunity for fear that they may kindle his
father's anger. This is, in fact, what happened when Strauss received his first
break. Strauss Jr. eventually was able to persuade the Dommayer's Casino,
located in a suburb of Vienna and incidentally the site of his father's early
successes, to allow him to perform. When his father learned of it, he refused
to ever play at the establishment again. The performance, which took place in
October 1844, was a great victory for the young composer and applauded by
critics.
When the elder Strauss died of
scarlet fever in 1849, his son took over his orchestra and combined it with his
own. With his orchestra, he toured extensively through Austria-Hungary, Poland,
Germany and Russia eventually surpassing his father's fame. In 1863, he was
appointed Music Director of the Royal Court Balls. In the 1870s, his fame even
reached to the United States; his tour there included the Boston Festival.
Strauss came to be known as the
"The Waltz King," composing over 500 waltzes, polkas and other types of dance
music. Though there was intense competition from other composers of light music
like him, other prominent composers of his time openly praised his work.
Wagner, figurehead of the "New German School," reportedly admitted to liking
Strauss's waltz "Wien, Weib ung Gesang." He was also friends with Johannes
Brahms, to whom he dedicated his waltz "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" When
Strauss's wife, Adele, approached Brahms for an autograph, the composer,
instead of signing in his customary manner of notating a few measures of one of
his most popular melodies and inscribing, "By Johannes Brahms," instead notated a few measures of the Strauss's "Blue
Danube" and wrote below it, "Unfortunately, NOT by Johannes Brahms."
In 1899, Strauss was diagnosed
with pleural pneumonia and died in Vienna on June 3rd of that year
at the age of 73. Since his death, his legacy as "The Waltz King" has lived on
until today.
Johann Strauss Jr.
Biography
Johann Strauss II, often referred to as Johann Strauss, Jr., was born in St. Ulrich near Vienna on October 25th, 1825. His father, Johann Strauss I, was already an established composer of light music. Strauss Sr., however, wishing his son not to endure the rigors and hardships of a musician's life, predestined his son to become a banker instead of a composer. Strauss Jr., on the other hand, did not heed his father's wishes. He studied violin in secret with the principal violinist of his father's orchestra. When his father learned of these clandestine lessons, Strauss Jr. received a severe punishment. In what could be considered a fortunate turn of events, Strauss Sr. left the family for a mistress and young Strauss was able to fully pursue a career in music with the support of his mother.Strauss, however, faced many difficulties in establishing himself as a composer in no small part to the reputation of his father. Many entertainment establishments were unwilling to offer the younger Strauss an opportunity for fear that they may kindle his father's anger. This is, in fact, what happened when Strauss received his first break. Strauss Jr. eventually was able to persuade the Dommayer's Casino, located in a suburb of Vienna and incidentally the site of his father's early successes, to allow him to perform. When his father learned of it, he refused to ever play at the establishment again. The performance, which took place in October 1844, was a great victory for the young composer and applauded by critics.
When the elder Strauss died of scarlet fever in 1849, his son took over his orchestra and combined it with his own. With his orchestra, he toured extensively through Austria-Hungary, Poland, Germany and Russia eventually surpassing his father's fame. In 1863, he was appointed Music Director of the Royal Court Balls. In the 1870s, his fame even reached to the United States; his tour there included the Boston Festival.
Strauss came to be known as the "The Waltz King," composing over 500 waltzes, polkas and other types of dance music. Though there was intense competition from other composers of light music like him, other prominent composers of his time openly praised his work. Wagner, figurehead of the "New German School," reportedly admitted to liking Strauss's waltz "Wien, Weib ung Gesang." He was also friends with Johannes Brahms, to whom he dedicated his waltz "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" When Strauss's wife, Adele, approached Brahms for an autograph, the composer, instead of signing in his customary manner of notating a few measures of one of his most popular melodies and inscribing, "By Johannes Brahms," instead notated a few measures of the Strauss's "Blue Danube" and wrote below it, "Unfortunately, NOT by Johannes Brahms."
In 1899, Strauss was diagnosed with pleural pneumonia and died in Vienna on June 3rd of that year at the age of 73. Since his death, his legacy as "The Waltz King" has lived on until today.