Editing Josef Strauss (section)

== Family orchestra ==
He joined the family orchestra, along with his brothers, [[Johann Strauss II]] and [[Eduard Strauss]]<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/josef-strauss#ixzz1ESrUViyL/ Josef Strauss]</ref> in the 1850s. His first published work was called "Die Ersten und Letzten" (The First and the Last). When Johann became seriously ill in 1853 Josef led the orchestra for a while. The waltz-loving Viennese were appreciative of his early compositions so he decided to continue in the family tradition of composing dance music. He was known as 'Pepi' by his family and close friends, and Johann once said of him: "Pepi is the more gifted of us two; I am merely the more popular..."<ref name=web>{{cite web|url=http://www.johann-strauss.org.uk/composers/index.php3?content=josef|title=Johann Strauss Society: Josef Strauss|access-date=2008-10-01|publisher=Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain|archive-date=2011-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930071806/http://www.johann-strauss.org.uk/composers/index.php3?content=josef|url-status=dead}}</ref>