Johann Strauss II

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(1825 – 1899)

Johann Strauss II (German: Johann Strauß (Sohn), “Johann Strauss (son)”; in English also Johann Strauss the Younger, Johann Strauss Jr., Johann Sebastian Strauss) (October 25, 1825 – June 3, 1899) was an Austrian composer known especially for his waltzes, such as The Blue Danube.

Son of the composer Johann Strauss I, and brother to the composers Josef Strauss and Eduard Strauss, Johann II was the most famous of the family. According to the The Blue Danube Songfacts, his father did not wish him to become a composer, but rather a banker. Nevertheless, Strauss Junior studied the violin secretly as a child and when his father discovered his son secretly practicing the instrument one day, he gave him a severe whipping, saying that he was going to beat the music out of the boy. Fortunately, this did not discourage the budding musician.

He was known in his lifetime as “the waltz king,” and the popularity of the waltz in Vienna through the 19th century is due in large part to him. He became the “waltz king” by his revolutionary elevation of the waltz from lowly peasant dance to sparkling entertainment for the royal Hapsburg court. Not only did he revolutionize the waltz, but his work enjoyed greater fame than his predecessors such as his father and Josef Lanner. Some of his polkas and marches are also well known, as is his operetta Die Fledermaus.
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  • Alexface21

    Also Sprach Zarathustra LOL [9] Radetzky March LOL

    Friday evening
  • youarezero

    Also Sprach Zarathustra LOL [8]

    Tuesday evening
  • MS_terrorist

    Also Sprach Zarathustra LOL [7] seriously, moderator, please, remove it!

    26 days ago
  • neangel72

    Family Johann Strauss and Richard Strauss are different directions in the classics

    last month
  • neangel72

    Moderator please remove song Also sprach Zarathustra (Richard Strauss)

    last month
  • MXB2001

    "Stanley Kubrick had to add to the confusion by adding both Johann Strauss II & Richard Strauss songs to the soundtrack of 2001: A Space Odyssey." I'm glad he did because I love 'em both. Did you know the soundtrack was a temporary place holder until music specially composed was ready? (which it never was so they used the "placeholders")

    last month
  • Vineonsmogon

    Stanley Kubrick had to add to the confusion by adding both Johann Strauss II & Richard Strauss songs to the soundtrack of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

    February 2012
  • MusicHallofFame

    The Music Hall of Fame are delighted to induct Johann Strauss II into the Class of 1952. Congratulations. Please join our group too see the latest inductees into the Music Hall of Fame http://www.last.fm/group/Music+Hall+of+Fame

    February 2012
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