Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-14
THE ~wALTx KrNG.v
Strauss Kept His Hair Dyed to Make
Himself Appear Youthful.

From the BeFliner Tagchlatt.
The facility with which Johann Strauss,
the waltz king just dead. composed is
almost incredible. He belonged TO the good
old times when such things were done in
another way than they are now. Now
adays, he used to say jokingiy. one would
have to turn over the whole literature OF
music to find new polka Then all that
was needed was for something to occur to
a man, and the composition was as good
as done. In the morning the composer
generally had not yet thought Of the new
waltzes that were to he played and got
ready by evening. Lanner's people regu-
larly came to him in the morning: then he
would think of something" and at once
jot down a part of the brand-new compo-
sition. which would then be arranged for
orchestra by other musicians, copied, etc.
The elder Strauss, for instance, had no
idea of his talent for composition TIL Lam
ner one day fell sick and said to him;
To-day positively can't do thing; see IL
you can't think of something" Strauss
tried it, and succeeded 80 Well that the
people in the evening were quite beside
themselves in their applause and declared
that this time Lanner had outdone himself.
The new piece had appeared under his
name Thus the elder Strauss took to
composing and his son afterward followed
him And he could always think of some
thing" from his eleventh year to his seven
ty-fourth-tili his death. After he had lost
the power of speech in his last illness he
was seen to be beating time on the bed
spread with his stiffenng fingers
Johann Strauss liked best to compose at
night over a bottle of wine. when his as
sociafes in the game of taroc had gone.
But his ideas came at no fixed times.
Johann Barndl, many years conductor at
the Carl Theater in Vienna, tells this story
of Strauss: At one of the last rehearsals
of Strauss operetta Prince Methusalcm
it suddenly occurred to the conductor that
the theme in certain love duet was strik-
ingiy like a popular song of the day.
Strauss did not know the song, but thank
ed the conductor for telling him, and prom
Used to compose another number in place
of 1t by the next day. On the way home
charming polka theme occurred to him.
called up, as he declared by the rafting
of the wagon wheels on the badly paved
street. BY the time he reached his house
It was complete in his head. This polka,
to which a very happy text was written,
became the music of one of the chief num-
bers of the opera, the couplet known as
''The Dotlet on the l." that was popular
everywhere on its Journey around the
world. But Strauss at that time did not
feel quite sure whether his polka was
full substitute for the omitted love duet,
and on the following day he brought in a
delicious waltz. These were the two num-
bers of the opera that did most to assure
its success.
'Sinngedichte," written when he was eleven
years old. 1t did not convince the father of
his sons talent, or else 1t aroused the eld-
er's jealousy; 1t is well known that he made
a determined opposition to his son becoming
a musician. Perhaps the younger Strauss
did not understand his father till he himself
had become an old man, and had dis1nher-
tied a talented nephew solely because he
wanted to become composer.
Strauss is described by those who knew
him as a singularly naive soul. and quite
ignorant of the more serious side of music.
In his younger days. however, he is said
to baVa studied the science with teachers
of good standing. One fruit Of this study
was set of serious and learned church
compositions. Strauss. however. felt the
need of getting immediate pecuniary results
from his studies, and communicated his
feelings on the subject to his teacher. The
latter answered: Go and write waltzes,
then-you wouldn't have needed any coun-
terpoint for that"
Strauss latest composition is a ballet, the
text of which was obtained by prize con-
test. 1t is, unfortunately, not finished. 1t
is fairy tale, Cinderella. but one of quite
a modern aspect, dealing with the adven-
lures of a poor dressmaker who. car
nivaI night. meets famous artist and wins
him. Besides this half-finished composition,
Strauss papers show a lot of dances in va
rious stages of incompletion. 1t may be
hoped that these will not be utilized as
Suppes musical remains were, in piecing
together new operettas of which the COM
poser had no idea. In his personal appear
ance Strauss was exceedingly fastidious.
even to his last days. He added to his
youthful look when seen from distance
by his habit of wearing his hair dyed. He
wore elegant clothes. even in his hours of
work; neglige costume he never knew. He
was outwardly always the FISCHER Wien
err, the smart Niennese, with twiried mus
taches, curied hair and patent leather shoes.
The summers he spent in recent years in
tschi, among that notable gathering of mu-
sicians headed by Brahms. who made that
watering place their headquarters. Strauss
will leaves all his real estate TO the Vienna
Society of Friends of Music; it consists of
six houses in Vienna and a villa in Ischl.
The use of it, however Is reserved for his
ter, Adele Epstein. and two sisters of his.
The most valuable part of his property, the
copyrights and performing rights of all his
compositions, is left without condition to
his widow.