Johann Strauss II (1825–1899)
The “Waltz King”: he brought the Viennese waltz to its peak with “The Blue Danube” and hundreds of dances, and composed the operetta “Die Fledermaus”.
The son of Johann Strauss I, himself a famous conductor and waltz composer, Johann Strauss II studied music despite his father’s opposition. In 1844 he founded his own orchestra and quickly became his father’s rival, then his successor, in the Viennese ballrooms.
With his brothers Josef and Eduard he ran a real musical enterprise that set Vienna and all of Europe dancing. He wrote waltzes, polkas, quadrilles and marches: The Blue Danube (1867), Tales from the Vienna Woods, Emperor Waltz, Voices of Spring, the Pizzicato Polka (with Josef).
He then turned to operetta: Die Fledermaus (1874) and The Gypsy Baron remain in the repertoire. Admired by Brahms and Wagner, he died in Vienna in 1899.
His waltzes, very often arranged for piano, teach the special lilt of the Viennese waltz: a slightly early second beat, free introductions and chains of several waltzes.
Piano sheet music (1)
- The Blue Danube (main theme) · level 3