Strauss (Josef) Waltzes

 Day 110

Strauss Josef waltzes

Dynamiden

Robert Stolz

Aquarellen

Seji Ozawa

Friedenspalmen

Daniel Barenboim

Hesperusbahnen

Frank Welser-Möst

Schwert und Leier

Clemens Krauss

Johann Strauss II said that although he was the more popular composer his brother Josef was in fact the better composer. On the strength of these five waltzes he might not have been wrong - these are certainly the equal of many of the waltzes of his more famous brother. They are all extended works with introductions and codas - the family has travelled far from the very simple Waltzes of their father. There is an air of nostalgia throughout these pieces, which forms a good contrast with the exuberance of the brighter moments. Indeed Hesperusbahnen, which is the composer’s last composition has a real sense of melancholy.

The first of these waltzes Dynamiden was referenced in the waltz sequence in Der Rosenkavalier - a neat tribute from Richard Strauss to the dynasty which shares his name - but to whom he was not related. 

That ends the exploration of the Strauss family in this project. Eduard Strauss’ son Johann III did compose but he seems not have inherited the family talent and was mainly known as a conductor - he lived long enough to makes recordings of several of the Strauss family compositions.These was an Isaac Strauss, who was an unrelated French composer - though he seems to have deliberately published works just with his surname in an attempt to link him in people’s minds with the famous family. Also an Oscar Straus with only one S, who wrote operettas including the Chocolate Soldier.