Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27
STRAUSS ORCHESTRA.
The Famous Organization That Visits
Pittsburg This Summer.
STORY OF THE STRAUSS FAMILY.
Eduard's Natural lnclinstiOns Spoiled Hh
Diplomatic Career.
TALK OF THE CONTRACT LABOR LAW

The famous Strauss Orchestra, which will
delight musical Pittsburg this summer under
the auspices of the Exposition Society, is
getting ready to leave Vienna. The Ameri-
can tour will occupy six months. beginning
at Boston on May IA. Five concerts are to
be given in that city, after which brief
preliminary tour Of some of the leading
cities will be begun. This tour will include
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg, Cincin-
matt, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and Al
bany.
Edward Strauss, the leader, Is a son of the
celebrated Johann Strauss, the original
Strauss who brought the name of the family
into prominence in the world of music. And
a remarkable family it is indeed, for its
name has become known throughout the
civilized world more widely perhaps than
any other in the entire annals of music-for
the simple reason that dance music, in
which form the Strauss family has chiefly
labored, is more universally understood and
appreciated than any other kind of musical
composition. Comparatively few really
understand and appreciate symphony, for
example, but he who cannot enjoy and in
some measure at least understand good
waltz must, indeed, be wholly wanting in
musical development-in fact, must be one
OF those unfortunates-they can be called
by no other name-to whom Shakespeare re-
ferred when he said:
He that hath not music In his soul
Is fit for treason, stratagems and spoils.
But it must not be inferred that the music
of the Strauss family is OF a low order OF
merit. Far from it. 1t is, on the contrary,
among the best and highest, artistically, Of
lis kind. And it is at least open to question
whether the composer Of splendid waltz
may not be entitled to greater amount Of
credit for his work than the composer of a
poor symphony.
THE STRAUSS FAMILY.
Johann Strauss the elder was born In
Vienna March IA, 1904. He was the
founder of the famous orchestra which bears
his name, which was organized in 1923 in
Vlenna-67 years ago-and of which he was
the conductor from 1928 to 1849. The fame
OF this orchestra rests chiefly upon its re-
markable interpretations of dance music,
and its skill has received acknowledgment
from many of the most famous musicians
and composers of modern times, including
no less authorities than Richard Wagner
and Meyerbeer, who were not charY OF ex-
pressing their admiration. Nor is the work
OF the orchestra wholly confined to the
lighter and more brilliant class of musical
composition. Works of a more serious Or
der are also to be found in its repertoire, and
to the Interpretation OF these it is said to
bring the same admirable qualities by
which its performance of other works has
long been characterized.
The elder Strauss had three sons, each Of
whom has distinguished himself IN the same
field of work as the father. Johann the
Of the y0ruIor
'Fledermaus," 'The Merry War" "Gipsy
Baron" etc., besides the Beautiful Blue
Danube" and many other waltZes, con-
Quoted the orchestra for a time, but event.
ually gave up conducting in favor OF COM
posing, which latter has occupied his time
and thoughts for nearly 80 years.
josef, the second son, in lis earlier years
possessed an ambition in the direction Of
engineering, to which he devoted himself
for a time, but eventually the destinations
of music succeeded in drawing him away
from that profession, and in 1854 he took up
the baton, which he welded in alienation
with the present director (his brother
Eduard) until his death, which occurred in
1870.
WANTED TO BE A DIPLOMAT.
Eduard, the youngest son of this gifted
family, early conceived fancy for the
career of diplomatist, and as the first step
toward what seemed to him at that time
such a desirable consummation he entered
upon his studies at the gymnasium, but did
not finally carry out his intention. In his
case, too, the charms OF music were far too
great to be successfully resisted for any great
length of time, so he gravltated in the
direction for which his natural tastes had
eminently fitted him.
His first public appearance after leaving
A.
in 1868 he conducted the Strauss orchestra
for the first time, thereafter alternating with
his brother josef as its leader. Since the
death Of josef, Eduard has been the sole
conductor. In the course of his career
Eduard Strauss has been the recipient OF
many tokens of appreciations of his serv-
ices from the Emperor OF Austria and
other European sovereigns, such as
orders of knighthood and personal
decorations. Since 1871 he has borne the
title of Music Director of the court balls Of
the Emperor OF Austria. Accompanied by
his orchestra he has undertaken numerous
tours through Europe, also visiting En-
gland, and everywhere winning the most
enthusiastic praise and the warmest appre-
citation of the efforts put forth for the enter
tainment of the people by himself and the
orchestra over which he presides. The visit
of this celebrated band of performers to this
country will undoubtedly be an event OF
exceptional musical interest to all admirers
of the beautiful art.
THE CONTRACT LABOR LAW.
Since the announcement OF the projected
tour in this country an effort has been made
in certain quarters to have the landing Of
che orchestra forbidden under the provisions
of the contract labor law. The principal OBJ
iectors are the musicians unions of New
York. The Strauss orchestra does not come
to this country with any intention of re-
naming here and thus coming into compe-
tltion with the musicians at present domi-
ciled in this country. Such an idea as q
settlement in America is altogether too alb
surd to be entertained for moment.
The landing of the d'Oyly Carte Company,
imported for the especial purpose of present.
ing the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, would
seem to have been fully as much a violation
OF the contract labor law as the engagements
OF the Strauss Orchestra, only-and here il
where the shoe pinches-they were not or
chestrsl players and consequently the local
musicians felt but little il any interest in the
matter. The best sentiment of the Ameri-
can people demands that the orchestra shall
be admitted, and there seems no reason to
doubt that that sentiment will be respected