THE LATE HERR STRAUSS,

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 500, 18 May 1850, Page 4

THE LATE HERR STRAUSS,

We lately announced the death of this well known and popular musician, who, in a secondary branch of musical composition, has gained a name of the first order. For more than fifteen years Strauss's reputation has been European, and in this reputation there was nothing capricious, nothing illegitimate, for he possessed true genius, confirmed by the enthusiasm of the public, and by the applause of the discriminating. John Strauss was born at Vienna, 14th March, 1804. Intended to be brought up a bookbinder, he served his apprenticeship to tbat trade ; but Nature had destined him for music, and he cultivated the study of it with such ardour tbat he soon became a violinist of remarkable talent. At nineteen years of age, Lanner, who had only two musicians besides himself, admitted him into his excellent orchestra, and it was then that his instinctive vocation for the musique de danse found an opportunity of developing itself. Strauss was not long before he set up lor himself, leaving

Lanner, and acting on his own account. He formed a band, which exclusively belonged to himself, and placed himself in open rivalry with his former chef ; the Viennese divided themselves between the two artistes, and joyfully availed themselves of the emulation which animated both. Strauss obtained no less brilliant success in his professional tours ; when he went to Paris he made quite a revolution in the ballroom bands ; in London he attended several state balls, given by her Majesty, at Buckingham Palace, and Prince Albert was not unmindful of the talents of his compatriot. During the whole of last season he created a most lively sensation in London. M. Berlioz, the musical composer, writes to a Paris journal in the following terms :—: — " This unfortunate director of balls, in which his orchestra was so conspicuous for the display of ardent melodies, exciting the most unbounded hilarity and joy amongst hundreds and thousands, has just relinquished his pen and his bow for ever. lam not one of those who say, 'O ! it is nothing ; he was only a maker of waltzes, at the most.' I say it is a great deal ; for Strauss was an artiste in every respect. Some of his rivals made, with fine opera music, execrable airs de danse ; he • composed, on the contrary, such charming pieces for his baud, ,that they would form a successful opera even of themselves. I think I see him now, in the music gallery of the j Salle dcs Redoubts, with 600 or 800 pretty Viennese whirling in the giddy waltz ; passionate and devoted danseuses, intoxicated with the movement and harmony, obeying him with so much respect, and calling for him between the acts, to bestow their applause and present him with flowers ! Strauss has, besides, rendered an eminent service to musical art in developing to a part of the public the sentiment of his finesses, and even some gracious caprices of rythm. " Vienna, has, then, lost one of its greatest charms ; it is a Viennese who avows it, in writing to me on the subject. 'No more of the Yolks-Garden,' he says, ' no more of the Sperl, no more bals masquies. Vienna without Strauss is like Austria without the Danube. Vienna is weeping for its pleasnres for ever gone !" Strauss's remains, followed by an immense crowd, were borne to the grave, supported by the principal artistes of his orchestra, to the village of Doebling, a retired spot near Vienna, where be lies interred near the grave of his former rival, Lanner, who preceded him to the tomb some five or six years ago.