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Romanian military bandleader and composer, best known for his immensely popular waltz 'Waves of the Danube' (Valurile Dunării).Iosif Ivanovici was a prominent Romanian military musician and composer during the late 19th century. Rising to the rank of General in the Romanian Army, he led military bands and composed over 350 dances, marches, and salon pieces. His fame rests almost entirely on the enduring popularity of his 1880 waltz, 'Waves of the Danube' (Valurile Dunării), which achieved international recognition, becoming a cultural icon in Romania and widely performed globally. Despite his prolific output, this single waltz remains his defining work.

• Although Ivanovici composed hundreds of pieces, 'Waves of the Danube' completely overshadowed his other works. He is the quintessential example of a 'one-hit wonder' in classical music.
• The waltz's fame was amplified when Johann Strauss II was mistakenly credited as its composer after conducting it in Bucharest. This error significantly boosted its popularity across Europe.
• In 1884, 'Waves of the Danube' won first prize in a military band composition contest held by the Romanian Ministry of War, cementing its status.
• 'Waves of the Danube' was adopted as the basis for the popular Israeli song 'Hora L'Yisrael' and later became the melody for the popular English song 'The Anniversary Waltz' (composed by Al Dubin and Dave Franklin in 1941).
• He died in Bucharest on September 28, 1902, likely due to complications related to his age (57). No major scandals or dramatic life events beyond the typical challenges of a military career and composer are prominently documented.