Establishing a Great Tradition

I bought a couple of CDs to listen while driving through some lonesome stretches of a long journey to Iran. One contained the Radetzky March and the other had the Blue Danube.

It was the right choice for us to enjoy the company of great masters of popular music of Vienna.

Johann Strauss Sr. (1804 - 1849) was the Austrian romantic composer of the former. Born in Vienna as son of innkeeper, he became the most popular and successful conductor and composer of dance music of his time.

His father's inn at the Danube Channel and the nearby harbor had sailors coming from different countries. The music played by them influenced the young Johann’s enthusiasm for popular dance music.

After the death of both parents at an early age, he began working as an apprentice for bookbinding. He also started studying the violin as a great musical instrument and was hired as a violin player in a small band.

Johann eventually became its deputy conductor and so popular that he was placed in command of a second orchestra formed as a result of the success of the parent band.

In 1825, Johann decided to form his own band and began to write dance music. After undergoing a period of financial hardships, his breakthrough came when he developed Waltz from a simple peasant dance, which with subsequent versions was ultimately to become the popular symbol of Austrian culture.

Due to his many triumphs, the number of engagements was increasing rapidly. Johann kept enlarging his band from time to time until it comprised more than two hundred performers. He was soon acknowledged as one of the best-known and well-loved dance composers in Vienna. He toured with his band to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Britain where he played at the crowning of Queen Victoria in London.

In 1849 Johann revisited London. After his farewell concert, he was escorted down the Thames river by a squadron of boats while a band played tunes in his honour. This was his last public triumph. On his return to Vienna he was attacked with scarlet fever and died. He is remembered as the founder of the waltz dynasty.

The most famous Radetzky March, dedicated to the Austrian Field Marshal, was composed by Johann Strauss Sr. in 1848. When first played in front of Austrian officers, they rapidly clapped and stomped their feet. This became a tradition that is honoured to this day.

The tone of the march is festive rather than martial. Many believe it is so because the Field Marshall who could have executed Johann's eldest son while serving in the Army became his saviour instead. It is more of a piece by a thankful father than a march about a military man.

Radetzky March is usually played as the last piece of music at the Vienna Harmonic’s New Year Concert.