A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lanner, Joseph
LANNER, Joseph, born at Vienna, April 12, 1801; son of a glove-maker; early showed a talent for music, taught himself the violin, and by means of theoretical books learned to compose. Next came the desire to conduct an orchestra; and in the meantime he got together a quartet party, in which the viola was taken by Strauss, his subsequent rival. They played potpourris from favourite operas, marches, etc., arranged by Lanner. He next composed waltzes and Ländler, first for a small, then for a full orchestra, and performed them in public. His popularity increased rapidly, and important places of amusement eagerly competed for his services. He also appeared in most of the provincial capitals, but declined all invitations abroad. He conducted the dance music in the large and small Redoutensaal, and also that at the court balls, alternately with Strauss. As a mark of distinction he was appointed Capellmeisterof the 2nd Bürger-regiment. When thus at the height of prosperity he died, April 14, 1843; and was buried in the churchyard of Döbling, near Vienna. A memorial tablet was placed on the house in which he was born, May 15, 1879.[1]
Lanner may be considered the founder of our present dance-music. His galops, quadrilles, polkas, and marches, but especially his waltzes and Ländler, bear traces of the frank, genial disposition which made him so beloved. All his works, from op. 1. ('Neue Wiener Ländler') to his swan-song ('Die Schönbrunner') are penetrated with the warm national life of Vienna. The titles often contain allusions to contemporaneous events and customs, and thus have an historical interest. His printed works amount to 208, and he left others unpublished. The following numbers are dedicated to crowned heads, and distinguished persons—op. 74, 81, 85, 91, 101, 110–12, 115–16, 120, 128, 131–32, 138 ('Victoria-Walzer' dedicated to Queen Victoria), 143, 146, 155, 161–62. The 'Troubadour-Walzer,' op. 197, are dedicated to Donizetti, and the 'Norwegische Arabesken,' op. 145, to Ole Bull. Diabelli published op. 1–15; Haslinger 16–32, and 170–208; Mechetti 33–169.
Of Lanner's three children, August, born 1834 in Vienna, a young man of great promise, followed his father's profession, but died Sept. 27, 1855. Katharina, born in Vienna 1831, is a well-known dancer, who since her début at the court opera in Vienna in 1845, has appeared at all the important theatres in Europe. She has also written several admired ballets, and in 1858 formed a children's ballet in Hamburg, which gave 46 performances in Paris with great success. At a later date she was engaged also at the Italian Opera in England.- ↑ Owing to a curious error in the entry of his baptism, his name was for long overlooked in the register.