Strauss (lived 19th–early 20th centuries)

Austrian family of musicians, including Johann (Baptist) Strauss (1804–1849); Johann Strauss (1825–1899); Josef Strauss (1827–1870); and Eduard Strauss (1835–1916).

Johann (Baptist) (1804–1849), was a composer, conductor and violinist. His parents were innkeepers and apprenticed him to a bookbinder, but he learnt the violin and viola and was eventually allowed to study with Austrian composer Ignaz Seyfried (1776–1841). He played viola in private string quartets and for the Micael Pamer orchestra, and in 1823 joined Viennese musician Joseph Lanner's band, in which he became deputy conductor. In 1825 he and Lanner parted and he began a rival band, for which he wrote dances, especially waltzes, which had by that time become fashionable. By 1837 he had been to Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, and the UK. He added the quadrille to the music of the Viennese ballrooms, having picked it up in Paris, and made a great hit with the Radetzky Marsch. He toured again and was then made conductor of the court balls.

His work includes: 150 waltzes (Täuberl, Kettenbrücken, Donaulieder Walzer), 35 quadrilles, 28 galops, 19 marches, 14 polkas.

Johann (1825–1899), was a composer, conductor, and violinist, the son of Johann Baptist. He was not allowed to follow his father's profession, but learnt the violin and studied secretly with Drechsler and others. In 1844 he appeared as conductor at Dommayer's hall in the Heitzing suburb, and his father capitulated. After his father's death he amalgamated his father's orchestra with his own and toured in Austria, Poland, and Germany, and St Petersburg. In 1863 he became conductor of the court balls, and directed them until 1872. The previous year his first operetta had been produced at the Theater am der Wien and in 1874 he had his most enduring stage success with Die Fledermaus. His greatest popularity was achieved with such waltzes as Tales from the Vienna Woods (1868), The Blue Danube (1867), Wiener Blut (1870), Roses from the South (1880), Frühlingsstimmen (1883) and the Emperor Waltz (1885).

His work includes the operettas Indigo und die vierzig Räuber (1871), Der Karneval in Rom (1873), Die Fledermaus (1874), Cagliostro in Wien (1875), Prinz Methusalem, Blindekuh, Das Spitzentuch der Königin (1880), Der lustige Krieg (1881), Eine Nacht in Venedig, Der Zigeunerbaron (1885), Simplizius (1887), Ritter Pázmán, Fürstin Ninetta (1893), Jabuka, Waldmeister (1895), Die Göttin der Vernunft (1897); ballet Aschenbrödel; Traumbilder for orchestra; polkas, galops, and other dances.

Josef (1827–1870), was a composer and conductor, and the son of Johann Baptist. He became an architect at his father's wish, but secretly studied music and during his father's illness conducted his band with success. He then formed his own band and wrote 283 dances for it. He died after a visit to Warsaw, where he injured his hand in a fall on the platform at his last concert.

Eduard (1835–1916), was a composer and conductor, and the son of Johann Baptist. He studied harp and composition and appeared as a conductor in 1862. After 1865 he took his brother Johann's place at the summer concerts in St Petersburg and in 1870 became conductor of the court balls. He toured much, appearing at the Inventions Exhibition in London in 1885. His works include over 300 dances.