The most popular and successful conductor and composer of dance music of his time, discouraged his son's musical ambitions. Despite these objections, Johann Jr. studied with Joseph Dreschler, and, at age 19, conducted a program which included his own compositions, as well as his father's. He earned the title "The Waltz King" because of his prolific output and frequent international tours with his own orchestra, which usually numbered about twenty-six. He was also an excellent self-promoter. Prof. Franz Mailer of Vienna's Strauss Society has said that for private court balls, Strauss was allocated only fourteen musicians. The Emperor wanted no larger ensemble. A thirty-four-man group, however, played for the larger court balls, and for concerts, 48. 80, or even a hundred musicians were used. Magnificent! Two bars from the melody from the opening waltz theme in Strauss' 'Kuss-Walzer' (Kiss Waltz), Opus 400, a dance piece based on melodies from his 1881 operetta, 'Der Lustige Krieg' (The Merry War), printed on a 4.5 x 3.25 off-white card and boldly signed 'Johann Strauss.' In fine condition. COA Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
