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The University High School Band
The History and Theory of Music

Johann Strauß, Jr.

Born and raised in the heart of the Austrian Empire, Johann Strauß was the son of a prominent Viennese musician. His father tried to discourage him from pursuing a career in music, but he secretly took lessons from a violinist in his father's orchestra. He began to compose, and held his first public soirée in 1844 at the age of nineteen. His father sent two men to try to stop it, but they wound up enjoying the concert so much they carried the son out triumphantly on their shoulders... but only after nineteen encores.

The most popular forms of music in Vienna at the time were waltzes, or stately dances in 3/4 time, and polkas, upbeat dances in 4/4. Johann Straußs, Jr. was the master of both.

In opposition to his father, Strauß Jr. sided with the revolutionaries in 1848. However, his father died the following year, and Straß Jr. merged his orchestra with his father's and began writing patriotic songs to curry imperial favor. This worked, and by 1863 he had been appointed Hofballmusikdirektor or "Master of Court Balls" for Emperor Franz Joseph.

His tunes were exceptionally popular in their time and remain so today.

Compositions

Die Fledermaus

Wiener Blut

Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald

Beautiful Blue Danube