Josef Strauss
Josef Strauss, like Eduard, is a younger brother of Johann Strauss II, and son of Johann Strauss I. He was born in Vienna on August 22, 1827. He was an extremely talented young man not only in music but even as architect and inventor. Of more serious and sober disposition than either of his two brothers, he long regarded café-house music condescendingly, his musical preference being for the classics. His famous brother, Johann Strauss II, needing someone to help him direct his orchestra, finally prevailed on Josef to turn to café-house music. Josef made his debut as café-house conductor and composer simultaneously on July 23, 1853, his first waltz being Die Ersten. After that he often substituted for brother Johann in directing the latter’s orchestra in Vienna and on extended tours of Europe and Russia. Josef died in Vienna on July 21, 1870.
Josef Strauss wrote almost three hundred dance compositions. Though certainly less inspired than his brother, Johann, he was also far more important than Eduard. Josef’s best waltzes have much of the lyrical invention, and the harmonic and instrumental invention of those by Johann Strauss II. Perhaps his greatest waltz is the Dorfschwalben aus Oesterreich (Swallows from Austria), op. 164, a nature portrait often interrupted by the chirping of birds. Here Josef’s outpouring of the most sensitive lyricism and delicate moods is hardly less wondrous than that of Johann Strauss II. H. E. Jacob went so far as to say that “since Schubert’s death there has been no such melody. It is in the realm of the Impromptus and Moments Musicaux. It breathes the sweet blue from which the swallows come.”
Another Josef Strauss classic in three-quarter time is Sphaerenklaenge (Music of the Spheres), op. 285, equally remarkable for its spontaneous flow of unforgettable waltz tunes. Among Strauss’ other delightful waltzes are the Aquarellen, op. 258; Delirien, op. 212; Dynamiden, op. 173; Marienklaenge, op. 214. A theme from Dynamiden waltzes was used by Richard Strauss in his famous opera Der Rosenkavalier.
In collaboration with his brother, Johann, Josef wrote the famous Pizzicato Polka and several other pieces including the Monstrequadrille and Vaterlandischer March. With Johann and Eduard he wrote the Schuetzenquadrille and the Trifolienwalzer.