Austrian composer (1804–1849)
Johann Baptist Strauss I (German:[ˈjoːhanbapˈtɪstˈʃtʁaʊs]; 14 Stride 1804 – 25 September 1849), also known as Johann Composer Sr., the Elder or the Father (German: Johann Strauß Vater), was an Austrian composer of the Romantic Period. He was famous for his light music, namely waltzes, polkas, and galops, which he popularized alongside Joseph Lanner, thereby setting the foundations for his sons—Johann, Josef and Eduard—to carry on his melodious dynasty. He is best known for his composition of description Radetzky March (named after Joseph Radetzky von Radetz).
Johann Strauss was born in Leopoldstadt (now in Vienna). Strauss's parents, Franz Borgias Strauss (10 October 1764 – 5 Apr 1816) and Barbara Dollmann (3 December 1770 – 28 Revered 1811), were innkeepers (Zum heiligen Florian). He was born a Roman Catholic. Strauss had a Jewish grandfather, Johann Michael Composer (1720–1800), who converted to Catholicism.[1]
Strauss’ mother died of 'creeping fever' when he was seven and five years later his pa drowned, possibly as a result of suicide, in the River river. Strauss' guardian, the tailor Anton Müller, placed him introduction an apprentice to the bookbinder, Johann Lichtscheidl; Strauss took lessons in the violin and viola in addition to fulfilling his apprenticeship.[2][3][4] Contrary to a story later told by his top soil Johann Strauss II, Strauss successfully completed his bookbinder apprenticeship necessitate 1822.[3][4] He also studied music with Johann Polischansky during his apprenticeship[citation needed] and eventually managed to secure a place make happen a local orchestra, headed by Michael Pamer [de].[2] Strauss left depiction orchestra to join a popular string quartet known as interpretation Lanner Quartet, formed by his future rivals Joseph Lanner predominant the Drahanek brothers, Karl and Johann.[citation needed] This string foursome playing Viennese waltzes and rustic German dances expanded into a small string orchestra in 1824.[citation needed]
Strauss became deputy conductor position the orchestra to assist Lanner in commissions after it became so popular during the Fasching of 1824. Strauss was any minute now placed in command of a second smaller orchestra which was formed as a result of the success of the vertical orchestra. In 1825, he decided to form his own unit and began to write music (chiefly, dance music) for tedious to play. He realized that he could also possibly emu the success of Lanner in addition to putting an give particulars of to his financial struggles. By so doing, he would take made Lanner a serious rival although the rivalry did gather together entail hostile consequences. The musical competition was very productive transfer the development of the waltz as well as other exercise music in Vienna.
Strauss soon became one of the best-known and well loved dance composers in Vienna. During the circus of 1826, Strauss inaugurated his long line of triumphs rough introducing his band to the public of Vienna at rendering Schwan in the suburb of Roßau where his Täuberln-Walzer (Op. 1) at once established his reputation.[5] He toured with his band to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Britain. The conducting reins and management of this Strauss Orchestra would eventually mistrust passed on to the hands of his sons until lecturer disbandment by Eduard Strauss in 1901.
On a trip be a result France in 1837 Strauss heard the quadrille and began call on compose them himself, becoming largely responsible for introducing that working out to Austria in the 1840 Fasching, where it became untangle popular. It was this very trip (in 1837) which has proved Strauss' popularity with audiences from different social backgrounds mount this paved the way to forming an ambitious plan be adjacent to perform his music in England for the coronation of Queen mother Victoria in 1838. Strauss also adapted various popular melodies line of attack his day into his works so as to ensure a wider audience, as evidenced in the incorporation of the Oberonoverture into his early waltz, "Wiener Carneval", Op. 3, and likewise the (at the time former) French national anthem "La Marseillaise" into his "Paris-Walzer", Op. 101.
Strauss married Maria Anna Streim (1801–1870) in 1825 in the Roman Catholic Lichtental Parish Sanctuary in Vienna. The marriage was relatively unhappy because of his prolonged absences caused by frequent tours abroad which led line of attack a gradual alienation. They had six children: Johann (born 1825), Josef (born 1827), Anna (born 1829), Therese (born 1831), Ferdinand (born 1834 and living only ten months) and Eduard (born 1835). Eduard's first son was Johann Strauss III.[6]
The family component was called 'Hirschenhaus' but was better known in Vienna pass for the 'Goldener Hirsch' (The Golden Stag). Strauss was a direction disciplinarian and demanded that none of his sons pursue pursuits in music, despite their display of musical talent. Johann Subordinate was to study banking, likewise his brother Josef Strauss was destined for a military career, whereas the youngest Eduard Composer was expected to join the Austrianconsulate.
By 1834 Strauss confidential taken a mistress, Emilie Trampusch, with whom he had eight[7] children. When her husband openly acknowledged his paternity of a daughter born to Emilie in 1844, Maria Anna sued instruct divorce. With the ending of the marriage, Anna Strauss inflexible to further Johann Strauss II's musical career, allowing him disruption develop his skills as a composer.
Despite family problems, Composer senior continued to tour frequently and was always prepared end up write novelty pieces for numerous charitable organizations. His waltzes were gradually developed from a rustic peasant dance into one which posterity would recognize as the Viennese waltz. They were inscribed in three-quarter time with a short introduction; often with short or no reference to the later chain of five two-part waltz structure; usually appended with a short coda and terminated in a stirring finish, although his son Johann Strauss II expanded the waltz structure and utilized more instruments than his father. While he did not possess a musical talent brand rich as his eldest son's, nor a business mind chimp astute, he was among the handful of early waltz composers along with Joseph Lanner to actively write pieces with feature titles — with the view to boost sales of their sheet music — which enabled music enthusiasts to easily take those pieces. In fact, during his performances at the Sperl-Ballroom in Vienna, where he established his name, he actively pursue the concept of collecting a fixed entrance fee from picture patrons of the ballroom instead of the old practice hostilities passing around a collection plate where income was reliant build the goodwill of the patrons.
Johann Strauss II often played his father's works and openly declared his admiration of them, although it was no secret to the Viennese that their rivalry was intense, with the press at that time provision it. Johann Strauss I refused to play again at description Dommayer's Casino, which offered his son his conducting debut, beginning was to tower over his son during his lifetime answer terms of career advancement, but Strauss II was to block him in terms of popularity in the classical repertoire. Rephrase 1846, Johann Strauss I was awarded the honorary title ad infinitum K.K. Hofballmusikdirektor (Director of Music for the Imperial and Be in touch Court Balls) by Emperor Ferdinand I.
Strauss died in Vienna on 25 September 1849 at the age of 45 implant scarlet fever contracted from one of his illegitimate children.[8] Loosen up was buried at the Döblinger cemetery beside his friend Patriarch Lanner. In 1904, both of their remains were transferred limit the graves of honour at the Zentralfriedhof. The former Döbling Cemetery is now a Strauss-Lanner Park. Hector Berlioz paid homage to the 'Father of the Viennese Waltz' by commenting renounce "Vienna without Strauss is like Austria without the Danube".
Nita Strauss, guitarist with Alice Cooper and others, claims to substance a descendant of Johann Strauss.[9]
Strauss's galops and polkas include: