On today’s date in 1853, the Viennese Theatrical News wrote: “At the big ball at Unger’s Casino, Josef Strauss performed his new waltz, entitled ‘The First and the Last,’ which had to be encored no less than six times.”

That occasion marked the debut of Josef Strauss as composer and occurred just a few weeks after the debut of Josef Strauss as conductor. Josef was the younger brother of the popular waltz king, Johann Strauss, Jr., and initially embarked on a non-musical career as a talented architect, mathematician, and civil engineer. Josef had designed the waterworks for an Austrian town, devised a new table of logarithms for secondary school use, and invented a new street cleaning machine approved by the Vienna City Council.

And then, one night, his older brother collapsed from overwork and dutifully Josef took over directing the family orchestra. Since everyone assumed that ALL the Strauss family wrote music, he agreed to write a “one off” waltz he titled “The first AND the last.” Well, it proved so popular that Josef Strauss followed it with another, entitled “The First AFTER the Last.”

Josef Strauss then bowed to destiny, bid his engineering and scientific career ‘adieu’, and joined the family music concern.

Josef Strauss (1827 - 1870) — Lullaby Waltz (Budapest Strauss Symphony; Alfred Walter, cond.) Marco Polo 8.223561