Carl Michael Ziehrer
(1843 - 1922)
Carl
Michael Ziehrer was born in Vienna, the son of a top hat maker, and showed early
musical talent. Funded by his father on the back of a contract with the publisher
Haslinger, Ziehrer studied music at the Vienna Conservatory. He was launched in grand
style at the Dianasaal in 1863 in a clear attempt by Haslinger to create a rival to
Johann Strauss II.
Although Ziehrer was never to become a real threat to the great Maestro himself, he
came closer than anyone else, and especially to Johann's younger brother Eduard.
Ziehrer became a military bandmaster 3 times during his long career, the last and
longest occasion being with the famous Hoch-und Deutschmeister Regiment with whom he
represented Austria at the Chicago World fair in 1893.
Ziehrer, like Johann Strauss II started as a conductor and composer for the ballroom
and concert hall. In his early years his style was more like that of Lanner, but as he
matured he developed a style of his own, often swaggering and highly rythmic, possibly a
result of the military influence.
He, also like Johann II, moved into operetta, composing some 22 stage works up to the
outbreak of the First World War, the most well known today being Die Landstreicher,
composed in 1899, and Der Fremdenführer in 1902. Some of his best pieces were
arranged from his operettas, such as the waltzes Herreinspaziert!, In lauschiger Nacht,
and Samt und Seide. Of close to 600 works, his best known are the waltzes Weaner
Mad'ln, Wiener Bürger and the Schönfeld March. He travelled widely in
mainland Europe.
He was the last to hold the position of Director of Music for the Imperial-Royal Court
Balls by decree of the Emperor Franz Josef, the only non-Strauss to hold this position. He
died penniless in 1922 following the ravages of the War, the last survivor of the so
called composers of the Golden era.
For more information about Ziehrer, there is a page (in German) for the
"Carl-Michael-Ziehrer-Stiftung" at
this link.
