Kirkus Reviews QR Code
JOHANN STRAUSS: Father, and Son A Century of Light Music by H. E. Jacob

JOHANN STRAUSS: Father, and Son A Century of Light Music

By

Pub Date: Nov. 28th, 1939
ISBN: 1432618261
Publisher: Greystone

Not only the life story of two of the greatest popular idols of the musical world, but also a chronicle of light music from the minuet to present-day jazz. The focus is on the men, composers and orchestra leaders, both of them, and the additional material seems somehow subordinated and sandwiched in, resulting in a sense of disorganization. Against the light-hearted, intense, gay and frivolous period of early 19th century Vienna, is set the story of Johann the elder, his marriage, his mistress, and the two resultant families. He opposed his son's musical career, which paralleled the father's in fecundity and genre, but surpassed him eventually in the quality and popularity of his work (The Blue Danube, etc. and finally Fledermaus). There is a vast deal of period detail. There is technical analysis of the music of each, of the history of light music, of other musicians in the family, making it a comprehensive, even if not well integrated book. Primarily a musical market.