Émile Waldteufel facts for kids

Portrait of Émile Waldteufel

Émile Waldteufel

Charles Émile Waldteufel (born December 9, 1837 – died February 12, 1915) was a famous French musician. He was a talented pianist, a conductor who led orchestras, and a composer who wrote many popular pieces of music. He is especially known for his lively dance music, like waltzes.

Who Was Émile Waldteufel?

Émile Waldteufel was born in Strasbourg, France. His family was full of musicians! Both his grandfather and his father were musicians. His mother, Flora Neubauer, was also very musical; she sang and danced and had even studied with famous composers like Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Émile came from a Jewish family in the Alsace region of France. Their original family name was Lévy.

Early Life and Music Lessons

Émile's father, Louis, had a well-known orchestra. His brother, Léon, was also a successful musician. When Léon got a spot to study violin at the famous Conservatoire de Paris (a top music school in Paris), the whole family moved there.

Émile started learning music from his father and a local musician named Joseph Heyberger. Once in Paris, he continued his studies at the Conservatoire de Paris with great teachers like Laurent and Antoine François Marmontel. One of his classmates there was Jules Massenet, who would also become a very famous composer.

Starting His Career

Because his family was having money troubles, young Émile had to stop his studies for a bit. He worked at a piano factory called Scholtus. But he soon found a way to focus on composing music. While he was studying, his father's orchestra became very popular in Paris, and Émile was often asked to play at important events.

When he was 27, Émile Waldteufel became the official pianist for Empress Eugénie, who was the wife of Napoleon III, the French Emperor. He also led the orchestra at grand state balls, which were big fancy parties. The Emperor even made him the musical director for these balls! This meant Émile got to play at beautiful places like Biarritz and the Château de Compiègne. At Compiègne, he met many other artists and even played music with the Emperor, who enjoyed playing the violin.

In 1868, Émile married Célestine Dufau, who used to be a singer. They had three children together: Louis René, Émile René, and Berthe.

Challenges and Global Fame

In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War broke out. Émile joined the army and was sent to the south of France. After France lost the war, the French Empire ended, and his hometown became part of Germany. Even after the Empire, his orchestra continued to play at presidential balls at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

For a while, only people in high society in France knew about Waldteufel. He was almost 40 years old before he became famous around the world.

In October 1874, Waldteufel played at an event where the Prince of Wales was present. This prince later became King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. The Prince loved Waldteufel's "Manolo" waltz so much that he decided to help make Waldteufel's music known in Britain.

This led to a big contract with a music publisher in London called Hopwood & Crew. Through this company, Waldteufel's music was even played at Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria herself! This made Waldteufel incredibly famous all over the world. During this time, he wrote his most well-known pieces, many of which are still played today. His most famous waltz is "Les Patineurs" (which means The Ice Skaters), written in 1882.

Later Career and Legacy

Waldteufel performed concerts in many European cities. He played in London in 1885 and in Berlin in 1889, where he had a friendly competition with another famous waltz composer, Johann Strauss II. He also led the music at the famous Paris Opéra Balls in 1890 and 1891. He continued to conduct and compose dance music for presidential balls until he retired in 1899.

Émile Waldteufel passed away at his home in Paris at the age of 77. He and his wife are buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Waldteufel often wrote his music for the piano first, especially for performances at court. Then, he would arrange it for an orchestra. He was known for conducting with a stick, which was different from the usual violin bow that conductors used back then. His music is known for its gentle melodies and soft harmonies, which makes it a bit different from the more powerful waltzes of Johann Strauss II.

A book about the Waldteufel family, called Skaters' Waltz: The Story of the Waldteufels, was written by Andrew Lamb in 1995.

One of his waltzes, Dolorès, Op. 170 (from 1880), was even used as the basis for a Russian song called Honey, do you hear me.

Famous Works by Émile Waldteufel

Émile Waldteufel composed many pieces, mostly waltzes, polkas, and galops. Here are some of his well-known works, often listed with an "Opus number" which is like a catalog number for a composer's pieces:

Works with Opus Numbers

• Kamiesch, march, Op. 5
• Myosotis, waltz (Forget-me-not), Op. 101
• Bella, polka-mazurka, Op. 113 (1867)
• Mellow Waltz, Op. 123 (1866)
• Dans les champs (In the Fields), polka-mazurka, Op. 125 (1868)
• Madeleine, waltz, Op. 126
• Térésa (also Antoinette), waltz, Op. 133 (1864)
• Manolo, waltz, Op. 140 (around 1874)
• Tout à vous (All Yours), waltz, Op. 142 (1875)
• Bien-aimés Waltz (Beloved Waltz), Op. 143 (1875)
• Flots de joie (Waves of Joy), waltz, Op. 145 (1875)
• Violettes waltz, Op. 148 (1876)
• Au revoir (Goodbye), waltz, Op.149 (1876)
• Mon rêve (My Dream), waltz, Op. 151 (1877)
• Les Sirènes (The Sirens), waltz, Op. 154 (1878)
• Toujours ou jamais (Always or Never), waltz, Op. 156 (1877)
• Très jolie (Very Pretty), waltz, Op. 159 (1878)
• Pluie de diamants (Rain of Diamonds), waltz, Op. 160 (1879)
• Brune ou blonde (Brunette or Blonde), waltz, Op. 162 (1878)
• Bonne bouche (Good Mouthful), polka, Op. 163 (1879)
• Gaîté waltz (Gaiety Waltz), Op. 164 (1878)
• Ma charmante waltz (My Charming Waltz), Op. 166 (1879)
• Dolores Waltz, Op. 170 (1880)
• Chantilly, waltz, Op. 171 (1880)
• Solitude, waltz, Op. 174 (1881)
• Jeunesse dorée (Golden Youth), waltz, Op. 175 (1881)
• Je t'aime (I Love You), waltz, Op. 177 (1882)
• La Barcarolle, waltz, Op. 178 (1882)
• La Source (The Spring), waltz, Op. 180 (1882)
• L'Esprit français (The French Spirit), polka, Op. 182 (1882)
• Les Patineurs (The Ice Skaters), waltz, Op. 183 (1882)
• Les Sourires (The Smiles), waltz, Op. 187 (1883)
• Soirée d'été (Summer Evening), waltz, Op. 188 (1883)
• Les Fleurs (The Flowers), waltz, Op. 190 (1883)
• Estudiantina, waltz, Op. 191 (1883)
• Trésor d'amour (Treasure of Love), waltz, Op. 199 (1885)
• Tout en rose (All in Pink), waltz, Op. 200 (1885)
• Rêverie (Daydream), waltz, Op. 202 (1885)
• Dans les nuages (In the Clouds), waltz, Op. 208 (1886)
• La Cinquantaine (The Fiftieth), polka, Op. 215 (1886)
• Coquetterie, waltz, Op. 218 (1887)
• Acclamations, waltz, Op. 223 (1888)
• Roses de Noël (Christmas Roses), waltz, Op. 230 (1889)
• España, waltz, Op. 236 (1886) (based on music by Chabrier)
• Tout-Paris (All Paris), waltz, Op. 240 (1889)
• Ange d'amour (Angel of Love), waltz, Op. 241 (1889)
• Fontaine lumineuse (Luminous Fountain), waltz, Op. 247 (1891)
• Sous la voûte étoilée (Under the Starry Vault), waltz, Op. 253 (1892)

Works without Opus Numbers

• Amour et printemps (Love and Spring), waltz (1880)
• Fleurs et baisers (Flowers and Kisses), waltz (1904)
• La Fauvette du temple (The Temple Warbler), waltz (1885) (after Messager)

Images for kids

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  Grave of Émile Waldteufel at Père Lachaise Cemetery

See also

In Spanish: Émile Waldteufel para niños