Émile Waldteufel (9 December 1837 – 12 February 1915) was a French composer of popular music, such as waltzes and polkas. Life Waldteufel (German for forest devil) was born in Strasbourg to a Jewish Alsatian family of musicians. His father Louis had a respected orchestra, and his brother Léon was a successful musician. When Léon won a place to study violin performance at the Conservatoire de Paris, the entire family followed him there. It was in Paris that Émile would spend the rest of his life. Read more on Last.fm