Role

:

Composer

Genre

:

Band

 

 

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Clare Grundman was an American composer and arranger of classical music. He was born on May 6, 1913, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Grundman began studying piano and violin as a child, and later attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied composition with Marcel Dick. He also studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1936. After completing his studies, Grundman worked as a freelance arranger and composer in New York City. He wrote music for radio and television programs, as well as for Broadway shows and films. He also worked as a staff arranger for the Radio City Music Hall orchestra. In the 1950s, Grundman began to focus more on composing classical music. He wrote a number of works for orchestra, including his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra in 1954. He also wrote chamber music, choral music, and music for band. Grundman is perhaps best known for his compositions and arrangements for band. He wrote a number of original works for band, including his American Folk Rhapsody No. 1, which was premiered by the United States Marine Band in 1956. He also arranged a number of folk songs and other traditional tunes for band, including his Kentucky 1800 and The Blue and the Gray. Grundman's music for band is characterized by its use of folk melodies and its accessible, tonal style. His works are often performed by school and community bands, and are popular with audiences of all ages. In addition to his work as a composer and arranger, Grundman was also a respected music educator. He taught at the University of Miami and the University of Kentucky, and was a guest lecturer at a number of other institutions. He also served as a judge for music competitions and festivals. Grundman continued to compose and arrange music throughout his life, and his works remain popular with musicians and audiences today. He died on June 15, 1996, in South Salem, New York, at the age of 83. Some of Grundman's most notable works include: - Symphony No. 1: Grundman's first symphony was premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra in 1954. The work is in three movements and is characterized by its use of folk melodies and its accessible, tonal style. - American Folk Rhapsody No. 1: This work for band was premiered by the United States Marine Band in 1956. It is based on a number of American folk songs, including "Shenandoah," "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and "The Battle Cry of Freedom." - Kentucky 1800: This work for band is based on a traditional tune from Kentucky. It was premiered by the University of Michigan Symphony Band in 1954 and has since become one of Grundman's most popular works. - The Blue and the Gray: This work for band is based on Civil War songs and tunes. It was premiered by the United States Air Force Band in 1961 and has since become a staple of the band repertoire. - Fantasy on American Sailing Songs: This work for band is based on a number of sea shanties and other sailing songs. It was premiered by the United States Navy Band in 1962 and has since been performed by bands around the world. - A Christmas Festival: This work for band is a medley of Christmas carols and songs. It was premiered by the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1950 and has since become a holiday favorite.

More....