Franz Strauss

Franz Strauss (26 February 1822 – 31 May 1905) was perhaps most famous for being the father of the well-known composer Richard Strauss. He was an accomplished musician and composer, a virtuoso hornist in Europe, also playing other instruments as in the guitar and clarinet, among many others.

Strauss was born Parkstein, Bavaria. He was remembered most often today as a horn player, and was an outstanding horn player in his day. For almost fifty years he was principal horn of the Munich Court Orchestra. This orchestra premiered many of Richard Wagner's great works. Strauss himself performed in the premieres of Tristan und Isolde, Das Rheingold, and Die Walküre. Strauss however intensely disliked the works of Wagner and did not get along well with the composer. Wagner, speaking of Strauss, said, "Strauss is an unbearable, curmudgeonly fellow, but when he plays his horn one can say nothing, for it is so beautiful."

As a composer, Strauss was remembered mostly for the pieces he wrote for the horn. These include two concerti and numerous smaller works.

External links

Read More