Franz Strauss

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Franz Strauss (February 26, 1822–May 31, 1905), is perhaps most famous for being the father of Richard Strauss, the well-known composer. He was himself an accomplished musician and composer playing the guitar and clarinet among others.

He is remembered most often today as a horn player. However, he was not just any horn player of the day. For almost fifty years he was principal horn of the Munich Court Orchestra. This was the orchestra that premiered many of Richard Wagner's great works. Strauss himself performed in the premieres of Tristan und Isolde, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre and surely many more. Strauss however intensely disliked the works of Wagner and did not get along well with the composer either. Wagner, speaking of Strauss, said, "Strauss is an unbearable, curmudgeonly fellow, but when he plays his horn one can say nothing, for it is so beautiful."

As a composer, Franz Strauss is remembered mostly for the pieces he wrote for french horn. These works include one concerto, and numerous other smaller works. Undoubtedly his famous son Richard was influenced through hearing one of the great horn players of the time in his own home growing up.