1. Classical German Composer June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949

2. Born in Munich, Germany His father, Franz Strauss was the principal French Horn player in the Munich court opera Strauss was musical at a very young age because of this

3. Strauss studied at Munich University for philosophy and art history; not music. Went to Berlin a year later to get assistant director to Hans von Bulöw Took over for him when he resigned in 1885

4. Mostly from the Romantic era Known for operas and tone poems Also a noted conductor

5. Strauss married Pauline, a soprano singer, on September 10, 1894. She was known for being bossy, outspoken, eccentric, and angry However, the marriage was happy and Pauline inspired Strauss. He preferred a soprano voice above others

6. Used in the movie Toy Story 2 from 1999 and A Space Odyssey from 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail page&v=SLuW-GBaJ8k#t=17s http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail page&v=SLuW-GBaJ8k#t=17s http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ayer_detailpage&v=SLuW-GBaJ8k#t=17s

7. Official in the Third Reich during WWII “To Strauss the composer I take off my hat; To Strauss the man I put it back on again.” Nazis “didn’t know what to do with him.”

8. Last song: Vier Letzte Lieder, “Four Last Songs” in 1948 Soprano and Orchestra Died September 10, 1949 at the age of 85

9. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Richard_Str auss http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Richard_Str auss http://www.8notes.com/biographies/strauss1.asp Google images