Lanner, Joseph (Franz Karl)
Lanner, Joseph (Franz Karl)
Lanner, Joseph (Franz Karl), historically significant Austrian violinist, conductor, and composer, father of August (Joseph) Lanner; b. Vienna, April 12, 1801; d. Oberdöbling, near Vienna, April 14, 1843. A self-taught violinist and composer, he joined Pamer’s dance orch. when he was 12. In 1818 he formed a trio, which Johann Strauss Sr. joined in 1819, making it a quartet. The group grew in size, and by 1824 it was a full- sized classical orch. that became famous and performed in coffeehouses, taverns, at balls, etc. The orch. was subsequently divided into 2 ensembles, with Lanner leading one, and Strauss the other. Strauss went his own way in 1825. With Strauss, Lanner is acknowledged as the creator of the mid-19th-century Viennese waltz. Lanner’s output totals 209 popular pieces, including 112 waltzes, 25 Ländler, 10 quadrilles, 3 polkas, 28 galops, and 6 marches; overture to Der Preis einer Lebensstunde’, Banquet- Polonaise-, Tarantella; and Bolero. His complete works in 8 vols., ed. by E. Kremser, were publ. between 1889 and 1891 (reprint, N.Y., 1971); selections were brought out by O. Bie (Munich, 1920) and A. Orel in Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Österreich, LXV, Jg. XXXIII/2 (1926).
Bibliography
H. Sachs, J. L (Vienna, 1889); F. Rebay and O. Keller, J. L. (Vienna, 1901); F. Lange, J. L und Johann Strauss: Ihre Zeit, ihr Leben, und ihre Werke ( Vienna, 1904; 2nd ed., 1919); A. Weinmann, Verzeichnis der im Druck erschienen Werke von J. L. (Vienna, 1948); M. Schönherr, L., Strauss, Zuhrer: Synoptic Handbook of the Dances and Marches ( 1982).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire