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Ferde Grofé

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Ferde Grofé

Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé,known asFerde Grofé(March 27, 1892 – April 3, 1972) (pronounced/ˈfərdiːˈɡroʊfeɪ/) was an Americancomposer,arranger,pianist,andinstrumentalist.He is best known for his 1931 five-movement symphonic poem,Grand Canyon Suite,and for orchestratingGeorge Gershwin'sRhapsody in Bluefor its 1924 premiere.

During the 1920s and 1930s, he went by the nameFerdie Grofé.[1]

Early life

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Grofé was born inNew York Cityin 1892 to German immigrants.[2][3]He came by his extensive musical interests naturally. His family had four generations ofclassical musicians.His father, Emil von Grofé, was abaritonewho sang mainly light opera; his mother, Elsa Johanna Bierlich von Grofé, a professionalcellist,was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play theviolinandpiano.Elsa's father, Bernard Bierlich, was a cellist in theMetropolitan OperaOrchestra in New York and Elsa's brother, Julius Bierlich, was first violinist andconcertmasterof the Los Angeles Symphony.[4]

Musical education

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Ferde's father died in 1899, after which his mother took him abroad to study piano,viola,andcompositioninLeipzig,Germany. Ferde became proficient on a wide range of instruments including piano (his favored instrument), violin, viola (he became a violist in the LA Symphony),baritone horn,alto horn,cornetanddrums.This command of musical instruments and composition gave Ferde the foundation to become, first an arranger of other composers' music, and then a composer in his own right.[5]

Grofé left home at age 14 and variously worked as a milkman, truck driver, usher, newsboy, elevator operator, helper in a book bindery, iron factory worker, and played in apiano barfor two dollars a night, and as anaccompanist.[6]He continued studying piano and violin. When he was 15 he was performing with dance bands. He also played the alto horn inbrass bands.He was 17 when he wrote his first commissioned work, "Elks' Grand Reunion March & Two-step".[7]

Arranger for Paul Whiteman

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Beginning in 1920, he played piano with thePaul Whitemanorchestra.[8]He served as Whiteman's chief arranger from 1920 to 1932. He made hundreds of arrangements of popular songs, Broadway show music, and tunes of all types for Whiteman.[9]

Grofé's most memorable arrangement is that ofGeorge Gershwin'sRhapsody in Blue,which established Grofé's reputation among musicians. Grofé took what Gershwin had written for two pianos and orchestrated it for Whiteman's orchestra. He transformed Gershwin's musical canvas with the colors and many of the creative touches for which it is so well known. He went on to create two more arrangements of the piece in later years.[10]Grofé's 1942 orchestration for full orchestra ofRhapsody in Blueis the one most frequently heard today. In 1928, Gershwin wrote a letter toASCAPcomplaining that Grofé had listed himself as a composer ofRhapsody in Blue.[11]The dispute was settled, with Grofé receiving a portion of the music royalties for the piece. Despite this misunderstanding, Grofé served as one of the pallbearers at Gershwin's funeral in 1937.[12]

In 1932,The New York Timescalled Grofé "the Prime Minister of Jazz".[13]This was an oblique reference to the fact that Whiteman was widely called "King of Jazz", especially after the appearance of the 1930King of Jazzfilm which featured Whiteman and his music.

During this time, Grofé also recorded numerouspiano rollsfor theAmerican Piano Company (Ampico)in New York.[14]Some captured performances were embellished with additional notes after the initial recording took place to attempt to convey the thick lush nature of his orchestra's style. Hence those published rolls are marked "Played by Ferdie Grofé (assisted)".

Not everybody appreciated Grofé's flowery arrangements during this time. In a review of a Whiteman jazz concert in New York, one writer said the music was expected to be pleasing, and "it proved so when it was repeated last night, in spite of the excessive instrumentation of Ferde Grofé."[15]A writer of a later generation said "the Grofé andGouldpieces were the essence of slick commercialism... "[16]

Radio, TV, conducting and teaching

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Mardi Gras(fromMississippi Suite) was recorded in the radio transcription seriesShilkret Noveltiesin 1931.[17][18]and again byNathaniel ShilkretinRCA Victor's transcription seriesHis Master's Voice of the Airin 1932.[19][20][21]"On the Trail" (fromGrand Canyon Suite) was also recorded in theHis Master's Voice of the Airtranscriptions.[21]

During the 1930s, he was the orchestra leader on several radio programs, includingFred Allen's show, theGeorge BurnsandGracie Allenshow and his ownThe Ferde Grofé Show.The "On the Trail" segment ofGrand Canyon Suitewas used for many years as the "musical signature" for radio and television programs sponsored byPhilip Morriscigarettes, beginning with their 1933 radio program featuring Grofé and his orchestra and concluding withI Love Lucy(1951–57).Jon Hendrickswrote lyrics for "On the Trail", and the song was recorded for Hendricks' albumTo Tell the Truth(1975). The piano version sheet music of the suite includes lyrics to the central section of "On the Trail" by songwriterGus Kahn.

Several times he conducted orchestral programs in New York'sCarnegie Hall.[22]On March 25, 1938, Ferde Grofe and his Symphony Orchestra played a concert at Carnegie Hall for the benefit of "Free Milk Fund for Babies, Inc.", Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, President and Founder. The concert included a number of premieres, with George Gershwin's "Three Preludes" for orchestra (scored by Ferde Grofé) featured.[23]

In January 1933 the premiere of hisTabloid,an orchestral suite in four movements, was presented in Carnegie Hall.[24]In 1937, he conducted a concert tribute to George Gershwin atLewisohn Stadium.The turnout (20,223 people) was the largest in that stadium's history.[25]In 1934, Grofé announced he was working on anopera,to be based on theEdgar Allan Poestory "The Fall of the House of Usher".[26]

In 1943, he was a guest onPaul Whiteman Presents.In 1944, he was a panelist onA Song Is Bornradio show, judging the works of unknown composers. Before that time he had served several times as judge or co-judge in musical contests. Grofé was later employed as aconductorand faculty member at theJuilliard School of Music,where he taughtorchestration.

Grofé's compositions

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In addition to being an arranger, Grofé was a composer in his own right. While still with Whiteman, in 1926, he wroteMississippi Suite,which Whiteman recorded in a shortened format in 1927. He wrote a number of other pieces, including a theme for the1939 New York World's Fairand suites forNiagara Fallsand theHudson River.Possibly as a result of his World's Fair theme, October 13, 1940, was designated "Ferde Grofé Day" at the American pavilion of the World's Fair.[27]In 1961, Grofé conducted hisNiagara Falls Suiteas part of the ceremony marking the opening of the first stage of theNiagara Falls Power Generationproject.[28]

Other notable compositions by Grofé were theDeath Valley Suiteand a music production aboutMark Twain.TheDeath Valley Suiteis a short symphonic suite written by Grofé in 1949, depicting the westward travels of pioneers through the "harsh lands" ofDeath Valleyin California. Grofé was commissioned by the Death Valley 49ers, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving the pioneering and mining history of the Death Valley region encompassing Death Valley National Monument (nowDeath Valley National Park) and the surrounding area.[29]The composition and music was part of a pageant performed on December 3, 1949, celebrating the 100th anniversary of theForty-ninerswho came by way of Death Valley in search of gold and other riches, as well as celebrating theCaliforniastate centennial (1850–1950).[30]The 1949 pageant setting was outdoors at Desolation Canyon in Death Valley. Grofé was the conductor, and actorJames Stewartwas the narrator.[31]In 1960, work was announced on a musical production based on the life of Mark Twain. The music was first assigned toVictor Young,but Grofé was later brought in to complete the work.[32]

Grofé is best known for his composition of theGrand Canyon Suite(1931), a work regarded highly enough to be recorded forRCA Victorwith theNBC Symphonyconducted byArturo Toscanini(in Carnegie Hall in 1945, with the composer present). The earlierMississippi Suitealong with the laterDeath Valley Suiteare occasionally performed and recorded. Grofé conducted theRochester Philharmonic Orchestrain hisGrand Canyon Suiteand his piano concerto (with pianistJesús María Sanromá) forEverest Recordsin 1960; the recording was digitally remastered and issued on CD in 1997.

In 1958,Walt Disneyreleased a live-action, short subject film of theGrand Canyonusing the Grand Canyon Suite music. The 30-minute Technicolor andCinemaScopefilm, entitledGrand Canyon,used no actors or dialogue, simply shots of the Grand Canyon itself and several animals around the area, all shown with Grofé's music accompanying the visuals. The short won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Subject,[33]and was shown as a featurette accompanying Disney's 1959Sleeping Beauty.Today, theGrand Canyon Suite'sthird movement, "On the Trail", can be heard playing as theDisneyland Railroadpasses the Grand Canyon sections of the "Grand Circle Tour" ofDisneyland.

Robert Moses,master urban planner, commissioned Grofé to compose the music for the1964 New York World's Fair.The fair's opening day's big musical performance wasPaul Lavalleconducting a 94-piece orchestra in the world premiere of Grofé's "World's Fair Suite". Moses had previously commissioned Grofé to compose the theme for his1939 New York World's Fair.Mr. Grofé was present, listening from a wheelchair, having suffered a stroke in 1961. His score was in five movements— "Unisphere", "International", "Fun at the Fair", "Pavilions of Industry" and "National".[34]

Films

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Grofé began his second career as a composer offilm scoresin 1930, when he provided arrangements (and perhaps portions of the score) for the filmKing of Jazz.[35]Published data for this movie do not list Grofé as the score's composer, however.[36]He is also credited with the film score for the 1930 movieRedemption.[37]

A review for the 1944 Joseph Lewis filmMinstrel Manstated, "the music, scored by Ferde Grofé, is an outstanding item."[38]Grofé was nominated, along withLeo Erdody,for anAcademy Awardin the category "Scoring of a Musical Picture" for this film.

The score he composed forRocketship X-M(1950) was the firstscience fictionmovie to feature the electronic instrument known as thetheremin.

His other original film scores includedEarly to Bed(1928),Diamond Jim(1935),Time Out of Mind(1947) andThe Return of Jesse James(1950).

Personal life

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Although he spent the first half of his life living inNew Jerseyand working in and around New York City, by 1945 he had moved toLos Angelesfull-time. In 1945 he also sold hisTeaneck, New Jersey,home.[39]

Grofé married his first wife, Mildred Fanchette Grizzelle, a lyric soprano singer, in San Francisco, CA on March 14, 1916, and divorced in 1928. In May 1951, he filed for divorce inLas Vegasfrom his second wife, Ruth, whom he had married in 1929. The day after the divorce was granted, he married his third wife, Anna May Lampton (January 13, 1952).[40]

Death

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Ferde Grofé died inSanta Monica, California,on April 3, 1972, aged 80, and was buried in the Mausoleum of the Golden West at theInglewood Park CemeteryinInglewood, California.He left four children, Ferdinand Rudolf Jr., Anne, Robert, and Delight, all of the Los Angeles area.[41]

Compositions

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Grofé composed a large number of works in a variety of styles, commonly in symphonic jazz.

Orchestral works

  • Broadway at Night(1924)
  • Theme and Variations on Noises from a Garage(1925)
  • Mississippi Suite (Tone Journey)(1926)
  • Three Shades of Blue(1927)
  • Metropolis: a Fantasy in Blue(1928)
  • Free Air(1928)
  • Over There Fantasie (WWI Patriotic Medley)(c.1929) also known as theOde to the American Soldier
  • Grand Canyon Suite(1931)
  • Knute Rockne(1931)tone poem
  • Blue Flame(1931)
  • Rip Van Winkle(1932–1954) Grofé worked on this tone poem for over two decades, before starting over and reworking the thematic material into theHudson River Suite
  • Tabloid: Four Pictures of a Modern Newspaper(1933)
  • A Day At The Farm, for orchestra(1934–1935)
  • Madison Square Garden Suite(1930s)[42]
  • Christmas Eve, for orchestra(1934)
  • Killarney (An Irish Fantasy)(1934)
  • Ode to the Star Spangled Banner, for orchestra,first performance of autograph score given in 2014[43]
  • A Symphony in Steel(1936)
  • Jewel Tones Suite(1936) Consisting of Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Sapphire and Opal
  • Yankee Doodle Rhapsody (American Fantasie)film score (1936)
  • Jungle Ballet(1937)
  • Rudy Vallee Suite(1937)
  • Ode to Freedom, for orchestra(1937)
  • Café Society(1938) a ballet, score rediscovered and repremiered in 2010
  • Tin Pan Alley: The Melodic Decades(1938)
  • Kentucky Derby Suite(1938)
  • Six Pictures of Hollywood(1938) also known as theHollywood Suite,reworked thematic material from his earlierHollywood Ballet
  • Trylon and Perisphere(1939) one movement tone poem for theNew York World's Fairof 1939–40 (later renamedBlack Gold)
  • Wheels, for orchestra(1939) dedicated to theForddealers of America
  • An American Biography, for orchestra(1939–1940) about the life of and dedicated toHenry Ford
  • Uncle Sam Stands Up(1941) a patriotic cantata, based on a text byBen Hecht,for baritone solo, chorus, and orchestra
  • Billy the Kid,unfinished and unpublished, some of this material may have been used in his score for the movieThe Return of Jesse James
  • Aviation Suite(1944)
  • March for Americans(1945)
  • Deep Nocturne, for orchestra(1947)
  • Death Valley Suite(1949)
  • Lincoln's Gettysburg Address(1954)
  • Hudson River Suite(1955)
  • Dawn at Lake Mead, for orchestra(1956)
  • Valley of the Sun Suite(1957)
  • Yellowstone Suite(1960)
  • San Francisco Suite(1960)
  • Niagara Falls Suite(1960–61)
  • World's Fair Suite (1964)
  • Atlantic Crossing(1965), a tone poem for orchestra, and chorus with both male and female narrators
  • Hawaiian Suite(1965)
  • Halloween Fantasy for Pizzicato Strings(1966) also known asTrick or Treat for Orchestra
  • Requiem for a Ghost Town(1968)

Concertos

  • Saxophone Concerto(1939) unfinished, unpublished work written forCecil Leeson
  • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in D Minor(1958) a long one-movement concerto Grofé had been working on since 1931

Ballets

  • Tabloid Ballet(1930)
  • Jungle Ballet(1937) written at the request ofDimitri Tiomkin
  • Hollywood Ballet,(1938, revised 1940), later rearranged and restored, and released as theHollywood Suite
  • Café Society(1938) a ballet, score rediscovered and repremiered in 2010

Movie scores

Works for concert band

  • Elks' Grand Reunion March & Two-step(1909) his first commissioned work, for anElksClub Convention inLos Angeles
  • Scalawag(1956)
  • Valley of Enchantment Suite(1956)

Chamber music and solo works

  • Four Rags for Piano(1906) Grofé's first compositions, written at the age of 14
    • I. Harlem
    • II. Rattlesnake
    • III. Persimmon
    • IV. Hobble
  • Souvenir(1907) for solo cello, written for Grofé's grandfather
  • Evening Shadows(1907–08, pub. 1915) for solo piano
  • Wonderful One(1920; pub. 1923) for female vocalist and piano. Music by Paul Whiteman and Ferdie Grofé. Words by Dorothy Terriss. Adapted from a theme by Marshall Neilar
  • Sonata for Flute and Bicycle Pump
  • A Sailor's Reward(1926) A Musical Drama of the Sea - for Ukulele in D
  • Queen of Egypt(1933) for piano. Music by Ferdie Grofé & Peter De Rose, Lyric by Billy Colligan
  • Ruby(1936) for piano, from the suite "Jewel Tones"
  • Miss Mischief(1937) for piano, dedicated toShirley Temple
  • Diana,for solo saxophone and piano
  • Templed Hills(pub. 1940) popular song
  • Table d'Hôte(1945)[45][46]for flute, violin and viola
  • Festiviana(1949) A Modern Composition for the Piano
  • Grofe's Serenade(pub. 1949) for piano, dedicated to his wife
  • Gallodoro's Serenade for Saxophone and Piano(1958) written for the virtuosoAl Gallodoro
  • Valsanne(1959) for solo saxophone and piano
  • Lonely Castle(1968) for solo flute
  • Christine(1969) for cello and piano
  • Sequoia(1970, Final Opus) for flute, oboe, and strings

Since 2010, the scoresRequiem for a Ghost Town,the balletCafé Societyand theOde to the Star-Spangled Bannerhave been performed in newly published musicological scores based on the manuscripts on file with theLibrary of Congress.[43][47]

Selected discography

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^Goldman, Harry (2014-09-17).Kenneth Strickfaden, Dr. Frankenstein's Electrician.McFarland.ISBN978-0-7864-8355-6.
  2. ^Collier, James Lincoln (13 July 1995).Jazz: The American Theme Song.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780195357226.
  3. ^Butterman, Michael (2016–2017).Soundscapes: Connecting Music & Art(PDF).Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Philharmonic. p. 29.
  4. ^Greene, David Mason (1985).Greene's Biographical Encyclopedia of Composers.Reproducing Piano Roll Fnd.ISBN978-0-385-14278-6.
  5. ^Ferde Grofé - American Composer.Encyclopædia Britannica. 2020.
  6. ^"Ferde Grofé".Naxos.RetrievedFebruary 2,2020.
  7. ^A Theory of Justice.Library of Congress - Copyright Office. 1909.
  8. ^"Ferde Grofé".Discography of American Historical Recordings.Retrieved2023-01-04.
  9. ^Rayno, Don(2003).Paul Whiteman: Pioneer in American Music, Volume One 1890-1930.
  10. ^"Rhapsody in Blue".Encyclopædia Britannica.2020.
  11. ^Holden, Stephen (February 13, 1989)."They Got America Humming: A Celebration".New York Times.RetrievedMarch 23,2009.
  12. ^George Gershwin funeral,New York Times,July 14, 1937.
  13. ^""The Prime Minister" of Jazz ".The New York Times.October 16, 1932.
  14. ^"Roaring 20's - Piano Rolls Recorded By Ferde Grofe".ArkivMusic.Pierian.RetrievedFebruary 2,2020.
  15. ^Downes, Olin (October 8, 1928)."MUSIC: Whiteman's Jazz".New York Times.RetrievedMarch 23,2009.
  16. ^"PROMENADE TURNS TO AMERICAN MUSIC".The New York Times.1966-06-08.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-09-02.
  17. ^Shilkret NoveltiesDemonstration Disc JGB 531–1 states that the discs were recorded in Byers Recording Laboratory under the supervision of Leonard E. Cox and directed byNathaniel Shilkret.
  18. ^Payroll records in the Nathaniel Shilkret archives show that theShilkret Noveltiestranscriptions were recorded in November and December 1931.
  19. ^Shilkret, Nathaniel, ed. Shell, Niel and Barbara Shilkret,Nathaniel Shilkret: Sixty Years in the Music Business,Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland, 2005, p. 281.ISBN0-8108-5128-8
  20. ^Victor Archive ledgers for 1932.
  21. ^abR-101 and R-102 are the transcription discs containing Grofé's compositions; dates for airing the transcriptions can be traced by, for example, advertising and themes for Christmas and Washington's birthday.
  22. ^New York Times,"Orchestra at Carnegie Hall meets enthusiastic crowd", January 10, 1937.
  23. ^New York Times,"Ferde Grofe to Lead Symphony Orchestra on Friday, March 25, 1938.
  24. ^New York Times,January 26, 1933.
  25. ^New York Times,August 10, 1937.
  26. ^New York Times,July 15, 1934.
  27. ^New York Times,October 14, 1940
  28. ^New York Times,7 February 1961
  29. ^49ers, Death Valley."About Us".deathvalley49ers.org/.Death Valley 49ers.Retrieved2014-08-01.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^Grofe, Ferde (1949).Ferde Grofe(PDF).Grofe and State of California. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-10-06.Retrieved2014-09-25.
  31. ^Thomas, Danny Ray."49ers Keepsakes".dannyraythomas.Death Valley 49ers.Retrieved2014-10-01.
  32. ^New York Times,14 May 1960
  33. ^Algar, James (1958-12-17),Grand Canyon,retrieved2016-05-25
  34. ^"Music: A listener's Fill"New York Times.April 23, 1964. p. 31.
  35. ^New York Times,"The King of Jazz, score by Ferde Grofé", 12 January 1930
  36. ^King of Jazz,Wikipedia entry
  37. ^New York Times,3 May 1930
  38. ^New York Times,date not available
  39. ^New York Times,1945
  40. ^New York Times,13 January 1952
  41. ^Obituary,New York Times,April 4, 1972.
  42. ^Bowers, Jack (3 December 2004)."The Metropole Orchestra: Tabloid Suite (2004)".allaboutjazz.All Abou Jazz.Retrieved3 December2004.
  43. ^abBaltimore Sun (5 March 2014)."Baltimore Symphony's 2014–2015 season to explore spiritual themes – Baltimore Sun".baltimoresun.Retrieved15 September2015.
  44. ^"Ferde Grofé Sr".IMDb.Retrieved15 September2015.
  45. ^"Ferde Grofé | The Music".ferde-grofe.net.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-03.Retrieved2016-05-25.
  46. ^UriShohamFlutist (2014-09-09),Ferde Grofé - Table d'Hôte - Flute, Violin, Viola,archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-11,retrieved2016-05-25
  47. ^Anderson, Janet (May 4, 2010)."Grofe's lost" Café Society' rediscovered ".broadstreetreview.RetrievedMay 25,2016.
  48. ^"Ferde Grofé, George Gershwin, William Steinberg, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Jesús María Sanromá – Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite / Concerto for Piano and Orchestra / Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue – Amazon Music".amazon.Retrieved15 September2015.
  49. ^Gates, Jerry (2011-02-16)."Chord Symbols As We Know Them Today – Where Did They Come From?".Berklee College of Music.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-22.Retrieved2013-10-13.

Sources

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  • Liner notes by Don Rayno forSymphonic Jazz: Grofé and Gershwin(Bridge Records 9212)
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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ferde_Grofé&oldid=1223867562"