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Josef LannerAustrian composer
Date of Birth: 12.04.1801
Country:  Austria |
Content:
- Joseph Lanner: Composer and Founder of the Viennese Waltz
- Collaboration and Competition with Johann Strauss
- Later Years and Legacy
- Contributions to Music
- Influence on Viennese Music
- Personal Life
Joseph Lanner: Composer and Founder of the Viennese Waltz
Early Life and CareerBorn in Vienna in 1801, Joseph Lanner was a largely self-taught musician. In the early 1820s, he formed a string quartet that gained popularity, leading him to establish a small orchestra by 1824. This orchestra became renowned for its dance music, performing at Viennese carnivals and city events.
Collaboration and Competition with Johann Strauss
Lanner invited Johann Strauss to join his orchestra as an assistant violinist, fostering a brief partnership between the two musicians. Strauss later became more renowned due to his extensive international tours, while Lanner preferred to perform exclusively in Vienna. Lanner also took over the management of the Vienna Court Orchestra.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1828, Lanner married Franziska Jahns, with whom he had three children. Despite a divorce in 1842, he later lived with butcher's daughter Maria Kraus, who gave birth to his son after his death in 1843 from typhoid fever.
Contributions to Music
Lanner composed over 200 works, primarily waltzes, but also slow waltzes, galops, potpourris, and marches. His famous waltzes include "Die Schönbrunner," "Die Werber," and "Hofball-Tänze."
Influence on Viennese Music
Lanner is recognized as the founder of the classic Viennese waltz, which became a distinct dance genre. His compositions introduced characteristic waltz structures and rhythms. Together with Johann Strauss, Lanner played a pivotal role as a conductor of influential Viennese dance orchestras.
Personal Life
Lanner's personal life was marked by both triumphs and challenges. His divorce and subsequent relationship with Kraus resulted in a son born after his death. Lanner's children, including composer August Lanner and dancer Katharina Lanner, carried on his musical legacy.
