Johann Strauss the Younger was the son of the composer and namesake Johann Strauss the Elder. His brothers Josef Strauss and Eduard Strauss were also composers, but did not enjoy the same popularity. Strauss Junior wrote his first waltz at the age of 6, but his father did not want him to become a musician, but hoped he would pursue a career as a bank clerk. As a result, Štraus was only able to study music more seriously from 1842 onwards. In September 1844, he founded an orchestra of 24 musicians. His waltzes were very popular and he came to be regarded as a serious rival of his father. Johann Strauss the Younger did not reconcile with his father until the latter's death in 1849. After his father's death, he was given the post of Hofballmusikdirektor (musical director of the palace ball). With the court orchestra, he performed in Paris, Berlin, London and St Petersburg, where he was hugely successful.
Strauss composed several polkas, marches and operettas, but he is best known for his waltzes, which he perfected and popularised to such an extent that he was even dubbed the "Great Waltz King". His waltz "The Blue Danube" has become particularly popular. His waltzes are endlessly joyful and dizzying, passionate and dreamy, lyrical and wistful. Strauss's waltzes are easy to listen to, very melodic, but also complex, with different tempos and contrasting dynamics, with climaxes and ebb and flow, and many different movements and melodies.
