Fahrbach was born in 1815 in
Vienna, son of Georg Leonhardt Fahrbach and his wife Karoline
née Koberger. His brothers Joseph (1804–1883) and Friedrich (1809–1867) were musicians, and they gave Philipp early musical training. Aged about 14, he joined the orchestra of
Johann Strauss I, playing flute; Strauss sometimes consulted him about the instrumentation of his works. In 1835, he formed his own orchestra. In 1838, when Johann Strauss I was away from Vienna during
Fasching, Fahrbach's orchestra benefited from his absence and became popular. From that year, his orchestra often played at royal court balls. From 1841 to 1846, he was conductor with an infantry regiment; on leaving, he formed again his own ensemble. From 1852, after the death of the elder Johann Strauss, his orchestra alternated with the Strauss orchestra at court balls. In 1856, he returned to conducting the band of an infantry regiment, leaving in 1865. He then formed an ensemble, which became the resident orchestra at
Café Sperl. Fahrbach died in Vienna in 1885. His son
Philipp Fahrbach Jr. (1843–1894) was a musician; he conducted his father's orchestra, and was a military bandmaster. He composed popular dance music and marches. ==Writings and compositions==