HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Waltzing Johann Strauss I

Johann Strauss I

Lithograph: Josef Kriehube

Born on 14 March 1804 in Leopoldstadt (now in Vienna), Johann Strauss I (Senior, the Elder) composed some 300 works with opuses numbering to 251. He wasn't the first to author a waltz but is considered the father of the Viennese waltz as head of the Strauss musical dynasty that yet exists in rock guitarist, Nita Strauss. "Vienna without Strauss is like Austria without the Danube" or so considered his contemporary, Hector Berlioz. Among other of his contemporaries was his greatest rival in the waltz who was Joseph Lanner.

Strauss lost both his parents by age twelve, thereupon placed with his guardian, Anton Müller, a tailor who apprenticed him to bookbinder, Johann Lichtscheidl, with whom he learned to play viola and violin. He also studied music with Johann Polischansky. Upon completing his apprenticeship with Lichtscheidl in 1822 he obtained his first professional position in the orchestra of Michael Pamer before joining the Lanner Quartet, also consisting of Johann and Karl Drahanek, to perform Viennese waltzes and rustic German dances. That quartet expanded into a small string orchestra in 1824.

Proving popular at the 1824 Fasching, Lanner made Strauss his deputy conductor. Fasching is Mardi Gras in Germany that commences on 11 November each year at 11 in the morning and stretches to Ash Wednesday of the following year [see references below]. Strauss began writing his own dance music upon the formation of his own band in 1825, quickly becoming a favorite in Vienna. He also married in 1825 to result in six children. He later took a mistress in 1834 to result in seven to eight more.

Strauss' initial Opus, 'Täuberln-Walzer' Op 1, was composed in 1826 to appear during Fasching that year. It saw publishing in 1829. He composed 'Walzer à la Paganini' Op 11 in 1828. Paganini was giving concerts in Vienna from March into summer, the initial at which his 'Violin Concerto No.2' was performed. Strauss' waltz was inspired by the rondo, 'La Campanella', in the third movement of that which came to long-lasting popularity.

'Täuberln-Walzer' ('Little Doves Waltz') Op 1 Johann Strauss I

Premiere during Carnival 1826 Published 1829

Palomitas

Editions Sivertrust IMSLP Naxos Wikipedia

'Walzer à la Paganini' Op 11 Johann Strauss I

Premiere 1828

Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina / Christian Pollack

IMSLP Naxos

'Contredanses' ('Country Dances') Op 44 Johann Strauss I

Published 1831

Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina / Ernst Marzendorfer

IMSLP

Part of Strauss' 'Paris-Walzer' Op 101 of 1838 incorporated the French national anthem, 'La Marseillaise'. Also making a highly successful trip to Great Britain in 1838, he entertained at the coronation of Queen Victoria.

'Paris-Walzer' Op 101 Johann Strauss I

Published 1838

Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina / Christian Pollack

IMSLP

'Huldigung der Königin Victoria' ('Homage to Queen Victoria') Op 103 Johann Strauss I

Published 1838

London Symphony Orchestra / John Georgiadis

IMSLP

On a trip to France in 1837 Strauss had heard a quadrille (square dance usually performed by four couples) which he introduced to Austria in 1840.

'Wiener Carnevals-Quadrille' ('Vienna Carnival Quadrille') Op 124 Johann Strauss I

Published 1841

Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina / Ernst Marzendorfer

IMSLP

It was 1843 that Strauss composed his 'Anna-Quadrille' Op 153 for the Feast of Saint Anne which fell on 26 July of each year since 1378 in celebration of the mother of the Virgin Mary. Due to inclement weather the performance of this work was delayed to 28 July. Also named Anna was the wife of Ferdinand I who was Emperor of Austria from 1835 to 1848, preceded by Francis I (who had also been the final Holy Roman Emperor abdicating in 1806) and succeeded by Franz Joseph I who would reign (Austria) until 1916.

'Anna-Quadrille' Op 153 Johann Strauss I

Premiere 28 July 1843

Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina / Christian Pollack

Naxos

'Loreley-Rheinklänge Walzer' ('Sounds of the Lorelei on the Rhine') Op 154 Johann Strauss I

1843 Published 1844

Wiener Philharmoniker / Willi Boskovsky

IMSLP Andrew Lamb

Strauss composed his 'Frohsinns Salven Walzer' ('Salvoes of Gaiety') during Carnival of 1844 and may have premiered it at the Industry Ball on 30 January that year:

'Frohsinns-Salven Walzer' ('Salvoes of Gaiety') Op 163 Johann Strauss I

Premiere possibly 30 Jan 1844 at the Industry Ball in Vienna

Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina / Christian Pollack

Naxos

Thomas Aigner has 'Faschings-Possen' ('Carnival Antics') Op 175 premiering on 29 January 1845 at the Zum Sperl (Sperl Ballroom) in Vienna:

'Faschings-Possen' ('Carnival Antics') Op 175 Johann Strauss I

Premiere 29 Jan 1845 at the Sperlsaal in Vienna

Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina / Christian Pollack

Naxos

Perhaps Strauss' most famous work was his 'Radetzky March' Op 228 which premiered on 31 August 1848 in Vienna. This piece was in celebration of the Austrian victory led by Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz over Italian forces at the Battle of Custoza during the First Italian War of Independence.

'Radetzky March' Op 228 Johann Strauss I

Premiere 31 Aug 1848

Orchestra Filarmonicii din Viena / Daniel Barenboim

IMSLP Wikipedia Wind Repertory Project

Strauss crossed the channel again to considerable success in 1849. However, he soon died of scarlet fever after returning to Vienna, at only age 45 on 25 September 1849.

Sources & References for Johann Strauss I:

Robert Cummings (All Music)

New World Encyclopedia

Norbert Ruby ("A Musician by the Grace of God"? / 2004)

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia English

Audio of Strauss I: Corpora:

Classical Archives Hyperion Internet Archive Naxos Presto

Audio of Strauss I: Individual:

Radetzky March (Op 228 / premiere 31 Aug 1848 in Vienna / Vienna Boys Choir / Viktor Gomboz / 1939)

Collections: Paul Löwenberg

Compositions: Corpora: