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Zoë Alexis Lang explores constructions of twentieth-century Austrian identity through an examination of commentary on Johann Strauss, Jr's waltzes.
List of contents
Introduction; 1. Johann Strauss, Jr's biography: facts and fictions; 2. The Strauss, Jr centennial (1925); 3. Johann Strauss, Jr as German; 4. Johann Strauss, Jr as Jew; 5. The Emperor Waltz in the twentieth century: a case study; Appendix A. Articles published during the 1925 Strauss, Jr centennial; Appendix B. Listing of official events for the 1925 Strauss, Jr centennial; Appendix C. Four Philharmonic Academy concerts, 1940-1941 season.
About the author
Zoë Alexis Lang is Assistant Professor of musicology in the School of Music at the University of South Florida. She graduated in 2005 from Harvard University with a dissertation that examined the importance of Johann Strauss, Jr in conceptions of Austrian identity during the interwar period. Her article about Johann Strauss, Sr's Radetzky March appeared in the Journal of the Royal Musical Association. Her research has been funded by the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies and the National Endowment of the Humanities. Beyond Strauss and Austrian identity, her other research interests include the phenomenon of Hausmusik in German culture and popular music during the First World War.
Summary
The Legacy of Johann Strauss examines constructions of Austrian identity through an examination of commentary on Johann Strauss, Jr's waltzes. Zoë Alexis Lang argues that Strauss's music remained popular because it continued to be revitalised by Austrians seeking to define their culture.
