During the summer of 1855, Johann Strauss again took a prolonged convalescence holiday, and entrusted his brother Josef with the sole leadership of the orchestra. It was not yet sure if Pepi would stay and support him in the waltz ‘business’ or if he would return to his usual profession of engineer and architect, but while Johann was taking a cure in Bad Gastein, the decision was made for Josef. It was clear that Pepi had to lead the Strauss orchestra alone in Vienna, as long as Johann was performing in Russia under very advantageous financial conditions. Therefore, as of the autumn of 1855, Josef Strauss was no longer the interim conductor, but a musical director on an equal footing with Johann Strauss. Since Josef now knew what course his life would take, he began to compete as a composer also with his brother Johann, and during the summer of 1855 he wrote a whole array of dance melodies and concert pieces. On 12th August of that year he presented two novelties to the public in Franz Unger’s casino in Hietzing: the emotional polka mazurka Vergissmeinnicht, Op. 2, and the lively Tarantel-Polka. It was the second time that the name tarantella (from the Italian word for "wolf spider") had been used in Viennese music. Josef Lanner had published a Tarantel-Galopp in 1838, which soon became famous and popular as a dance piece. Now Josef Strauss, who (besides Johann Strauss) had been called a ‘second Lanner’ by several aficionados, followed suit with his equally lively Tarantel-Polka. The piano edition of the work appeared in February 1856 at Spina’s. At present, no orchestral parts are known to exist.

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Painting: La Tarantella
Artist: Francois Xavier Dupré

Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra
Christian Pollack