Strauss II, Johann 1825 - 1899
Author: Saitoh, Noriko
Last updated：August 1, 2008
Author: Saitoh, Noriko
A prolific Austrian composer, Johann Strauss II is known for his dance music, including waltzes and polkas. He was so prolific that he composed over 100 pieces of each, earning him the title "The Waltz King." In his later years, he also ventured into composing operettas. A pivotal work during this transition was The Blue Danube, a waltz that incorporated vocal elements for the first time.
Despite strong opposition from his father, who was also a composer, he was unable to receive early musical education. Instead, he received training to become a merchant and a banker. He only began studying composition after his parents separated. However, even before that, he had secretly begun learning the violin with his mother's understanding.
Johann Strauss II's waltzes feature a lavish orchestral scoring and a structure that strongly emphasizes musical unity. They typically begin with an introduction that hints at the waltz melodies. In the main body of the waltz, he favored treating melodies using techniques such as repetition at different pitches, superimposition in thirds or sixths, contrasting legato and staccato, and employing hemiola.
Furthermore, in his polkas, his creation of the polka-mazurka, which incorporates the rhythm of the mazurka, is significant.
Works(35)
Piano Solo (4)
polka (6)
waltz (2)
Various works (4)
Piano Ensemble (2)
waltz (2)
Chamber Music (3)
waltz (2)
etc (3)
opera (4)