Classical German Composer

June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949

Richard Strauss

Born in Munich, GermanyHis father, Franz Strauss was the principal

French Horn player in the Munich court opera

Strauss was musical at a very young age because of this

Place of birth and Father

Strauss studied at Munich University for philosophy and art history; not music.

Went to Berlin a year later to get assistant director to Hans von Bulöw

Took over for him when he resigned in 1885

Munich University

Mostly from the Romantic eraKnown for operas and tone poemsAlso a noted conductor

Line of Work

Strauss married Pauline, a soprano singer, on September 10, 1894.

She was known for being bossy, outspoken, eccentric, and angry

However, the marriage was happy and Pauline inspired Strauss.

He preferred a soprano voice above others

Pauline Maria de Ahna

Used in the movie Toy Story 2 from 1999 and A Space Odyssey from 2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SLuW-GBaJ8k#t=17s

Also Sprach Zarathustra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SLuW-GBaJ8k#t=17s

Official in the Third Reich during WWII

“To Strauss the composer I take off my hat; To Strauss the man I put it back on again.”

Nazis “didn’t know what to do with him.”

Strauss in

History

Last song: Vier Letzte Lieder, “Four Last Songs” in 1948

Soprano and Orchestra

Died September 10, 1949 at the age of 85

The later years

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Richard_Strauss

http://www.8notes.com/biographies/strauss1.asp

Google images

Sources