Lanner, Joseph (Franz Karl) (1801–1843)

Austrian violinist and composer. He composed country dances and waltzes, in which he was Johann Strauss's greatest rival.

He was born in Vienna, the son of a glove-maker, and taught himself to play the violin. Anxious to conduct an orchestra, he began by forming a string quartet, in which Strauss, senior, played viola. They performed at various taverns, playing his arrangements of selections from favourite operas. He was engaged to conduct the orchestra at dances, visited provincial cities with his own band, and finally conducted the court balls in turn with Strauss.

Works over 200 waltzes, country dances, quadrilles, polkas, galops, marches.