Johann Strauss II
Austrian composer known as 'The Waltz King'.
via Wikipedia: Johann Strauss II · see source
Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899) was an Austrian violinist and composer of light music, best known for his dance pieces and operettas. Often called Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger, or simply Johann Strauss, he earned the nickname "The Waltz King" for his key role in making the waltz hugely popular during the 1800s. He wrote more than 500 works, including waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, marches, and other dance forms, plus several operettas and a ballet. Among his most celebrated compositions are "The Blue Danube," "Emperor Waltz," "Tales from the Vienna Woods," "Voices of Spring," and the "Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka." His best-known operettas are *Die Fledermaus* and *Der Zigeunerbaron*.
Strauss was born on 25 October 1825 in St Ulrich near Vienna (now part of Neubau, Austria), into a Catholic family. His father was the composer Johann Strauss I, and his mother was Maria Anna Streim. His great-grandfather on his father’s side was a Hungarian Jew—a fact later hidden by the Nazis, who praised Strauss’s music as quintessentially German. The elder Strauss wanted his son to become a banker, not a musician. Despite this, young Johann secretly studied the violin with Franz Amon, the first violinist in his father’s orchestra. When his father caught him practicing, he whipped the boy harshly, claiming he would beat the music out of him. This was not out of fear of rivalry but because the elder Strauss wanted to spare his son the hardships of a musician’s life. Only after the father left the family for a mistress, Emilie Trampusch, could the son fully pursue a composing career, supported by his mother.
Strauss studied counterpoint and harmony with Professor Joachim Hoffmann, who ran a private music school. Composer Joseph Drechsler also recognized his talent and gave him harmony exercises. During this period, Strauss composed his only sacred work, the gradual *Tu qui regis totum orbem* (1844). Another violin teacher, Anton Kollmann—a ballet répétiteur at the Vienna Court Opera—provided excellent references. With these, Strauss applied for a performance license from Viennese authorities. He first formed a small orchestra by recruiting musicians at the Zur Stadt Belgrad tavern, a place where job-seeking players gathered.
Because Johann Strauss I had great influence over local entertainment venues, many were reluctant to hire the younger Strauss, fearing the father’s anger. Eventually, the son persuaded Dommayer’s Casino in Hietzing, a Vienna suburb, to let him perform. In retaliation, the elder Strauss refused ever to play there again, even though it had been the site of many of his own triumphs. Strauss Jr. made his debut at Dommayer’s in October 1844, playing early works like the waltzes "Sinngedichte" (Op. 1) and "Gunstwerber" (Op. 4), and the polka "Herzenslust" (Op. 3). Critics and the press praised his music highly; one critic from *Der Wanderer* wrote that Strauss’s name would be worthily carried on by his son, and that three-quarter time would have a strong champion in him.
Despite this early acclaim, Strauss struggled at first as a composer. He soon won over audiences by accepting commissions to perform outside Vienna. His first major appointment came when he was awarded the honorary position of Kapellmeister of the 2nd Vienna Citizen’s Regiment, a post left vacant after Joseph Lanner’s death two years earlier. During the revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire, the rivalry between father and son intensified. The younger Strauss sided with the revolutionaries, a choice that hurt his career: the Austrian royalty twice denied him the coveted position of KK Hofballmusikdirektor, a role first created for his father. He was also arrested for publicly playing "La Marseillaise" but was later acquitted. The elder Strauss remained loyal to the monarchy, composing his famous "Radetzky March" (Op. 228) in honor of Habsburg field marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. After Johann Strauss I died of scarlet fever in Vienna in 1849, the younger Strauss merged both their orchestras and went on further tours. He later wrote several patriotic marches dedicated to Emperor Franz Josef I, such as the "Kaiser Franz-Josef Marsch" (Op. 67) and the "Kaiser Franz Josef Rettungs Jubel-Marsch" (Op. 126), likely to gain favor with the new monarch who had ascended the throne after the 1848 revolution.
Strauss Jr. eventually surpassed his father’s fame, becoming one of the era’s most popular waltz composers. He toured extensively with his orchestra through Austria, Poland, and Germany. After several rejections due to his earlier run-ins with authorities, he finally obtained the position of KK Hofballmusikdirektor in 1863. In 1853, because of constant mental and physical strain...
- born
- 25 October 1825
- died
- 3 June 1899
- field
- Composer, violinist
- nationality
- Austrian
- known_for
- Waltzes, operettas, 'The Waltz King'
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1825-10-25
- Birth Place
- Vienna, Austrian Empire
- Death Date
- 1899-06-03
- Death Place
- Vienna, Austria-Hungary
- Resting Place
- Vienna Central Cemetery
- Occupation
- Composer
- List Of Works
- List of compositions / List of operettas
- Spouse
- Henrietta Treffz · 1862 · 1878 · reason=died / Angelika Dittrich · 1878 · 1882 · reason=div / Adele Deutsch · 1887
- Father
- Johann Strauss I
- Relatives
- Josef Strauss (brother) / Eduard Strauss (brother)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Strauss was born into a Catholic family in St Ulrich near Vienna on 25 October 1825, to composer Johann Strauss I and Maria Anna Streim. His father did not want him to become a musician but rather a banker. Nevertheless, Strauss Jr. studied the violin secretly as a child with Franz Amon, the first violinist of his father's orchestra. When his father discovered him secretly practicing, he gave him a severe whipping, saying he was going to beat the music out of the boy. Only after the father abandoned the family for a mistress, Emilie Trampusch, could the son concentrate fully on a career as a composer with his mother's support. He studied counterpoint and harmony with theorist Professor Joachim Hoffmann, and his talents were recognized by composer Joseph Drechsler, who taught him exercises in harmony. During that time he composed his only sacred work, the gradual Tu qui regis totum orbem (1844). His other violin teacher, Anton Kollmann, wrote excellent testimonials. Armed with these, he approached the Viennese authorities to apply for a license to perform. He initially formed his small orchestra at the Zur Stadt Belgrad tavern. Strauss made his debut at Dommayer's Casino in October 1844, performing works including the waltzes 'Sinngedichte', Op. 1 and 'Gunstwerber', Op. 4, and the polka 'Herzenslust', Op. 3. A critic for Der Wanderer commented: 'Strauss's name will be worthily continued in his son; children and children's children can look forward to the future, and three-quarter time will find a strong footing in him.' His first major appointment was the honorary position of Kapellmeister of the 2nd Vienna Citizen's Regiment. During the revolutions of 1848, Strauss sided with the revolutionaries, which led the Austrian royalty to twice deny him the position of KK Hofballmusikdirektor. He was arrested by the Viennese authorities for publicly playing 'La Marseillaise' but was later acquitted. After his father's death from scarlet fever in Vienna in 1849, Strauss merged both their orchestras and later composed patriotic marches dedicated to Emperor Franz Josef I, such as the 'Kaiser Franz-Josef Marsch' Op. 67 and the 'Kaiser Franz Josef Rettungs Jubel-Marsch' Op. 126.
Reader's Guide
Johann Strauss II eventually attained greater fame than his father and became one of the most popular waltz composers of the era, extensively touring Austria, Poland, and Germany with his orchestra. He finally attained the position of KK Hofballmusikdirektor in 1863, after being denied several times before for his frequent brushes with the local authorities. In 1853, due to constant mental and physical demands, Strauss suffered a nervous breakdown and took a seven-week vacation in the countryside; his younger brother Josef was persuaded to abandon his career as an engineer and take command of Johann's orchestra in the interim. From 1856 to 1865, Strauss accepted commissions from the Tsarskoye-Selo Railway Company of Saint Petersburg to perform annually in Russia at Pavlovsk. In 1862, his brother Eduard officially joined the Strauss orchestra as another conductor. In 1872, Strauss came to the United States for the World's Peace Jubilee and International Musical Festival in Boston at the invitation of bandmaster Patrick Gilmore, where he was the lead conductor in a 'Monster Concert' of over 1000 performers performing his 'Blue Danube' waltz. During that visit, his valet clipped hair from Strauss's black Newfoundland dog to give to adoring female fans as 'authentic Strauss hair'. Strauss married singer Henrietta Treffz in 1862; they remained together until her death in 1878. Six weeks after her death, he married actress Angelika Dittrich, but their differences led him to seek a divorce. Not granted a decree of annulment by the Roman Catholic Church, Strauss changed religion and nationality and became a citizen of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in January 1887. He found solace in his third wife Adele Deutsch, whom he married in August 1887; she encouraged his creative talent, resulting in works such as the operettas Der Zigeunerbaron and Waldmeister and the waltzes 'Kaiser-Walzer' Op. 437, 'Kaiser Jubiläum' Op. 434, and 'Klug Gretelein' Op. 462.
Did You Know?
- Strauss composed his only sacred work, the gradual Tu qui regis totum orbem, in 1844.
- When his father discovered him secretly practicing the violin, he gave him a severe whipping, saying he would beat the music out of the boy.
- During his 1872 visit to the United States, his valet clipped hair from Strauss's black Newfoundland dog to give to fans as 'authentic Strauss hair'.
- Strauss was arrested by Viennese authorities for publicly playing 'La Marseillaise' during the 1848 revolutions, but was later acquitted.
- To marry his third wife Adele Deutsch, Strauss changed religion and nationality, becoming a citizen of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in January 1887.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Johann Strauss II?
Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) was an Austrian composer and violinist who specialized in light music, particularly dance pieces and operettas. He is best known by his popular nickname, 'The Waltz King.'
Why is Johann Strauss II called 'The Waltz King'?
He earned that title because he was the central figure in making the waltz the dominant social dance of 19th-century Europe. His enormous output of waltzes helped cement the form's cultural status across the continent.
How many waltzes did Johann Strauss II write?
He composed well over 500 pieces of dance music, spanning waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and marches. His catalogue also includes several operettas and at least one ballet.
What is Johann Strauss II's most famous composition?
The Blue Danube Waltz (1867) is widely regarded as his signature work and one of the most recognizable classical pieces ever written. It became a symbol of Viennese musical culture and remains a staple of New Year's concerts worldwide.
What was Johann Strauss II's nationality and when did he live?
He was Austrian, born in Vienna on 25 October 1825 and died on 3 June 1899. He spent his career in the Habsburg capital, where the waltz tradition he championed was most deeply rooted.
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