Gustav Strube (3 March 1867 – 2 February 1953) was a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
-born
conductor and
composer. He was the founding conductor of the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, it bega ...
in 1916, and taught at the
Peabody Conservatory
The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University is a private conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1857 and opened in 1866 by merchant/financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795–1869), ...
. He wrote two
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...
s, ''Ramona'', which premiered in 1916, and ''The Captive'', which premiered at the
Lyric Theatre in Baltimore in February 1938. He was also a member of Baltimore's famous Saturday Night Club with
H. L. Mencken
Henry Louis Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians, ...
.
Strube was born in the Harz Mountains of
Ballenstadt in 1867 and came from a musically gifted family. By the age of 10, Strube was in his father's symphony, and at the age of 16 he entered the
Leipzig Conservatory
The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig (german: Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig) is a public university in Leipzig (Saxony, Germany). Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn ...
. Strube used to earn pocket money by making dance music for Saturday night dance parties. Upon graduation he entered the
Gewandhaus Orchestra
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (Gewandhausorchester; also previously known in German as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig) is a German symphony orchestra based in Leipzig, Germany. The orchestra is named after the concert hall in which it is bas ...
, and played under
Johann Strauss
Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ove ...
, the younger, while teaching at the Mannheim Conservatory. In 1889 Strube and conductor
Artur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch (12 October 185523 January 1922) was a Hungarian conductor who performed internationally, holding posts in Boston, London, Leipzig and—most importantly—Berlin. He was considered an outstanding interpreter of the music of Br ...
immigrated to the United States to play in the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, he said.
Strube played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 23 years, and eventually became concert master. Strube was one of the first conductors of the
Boston Pops
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in light classical and popular music. The orchestra's current music director is Keith Lockhart.
Founded in 1885 as an offshoot of the Boston Sym ...
, formed because of the success of "march master" John Philip Sousa, according to the Boston Pops Homepage.
He was a National Patron of
Delta Omicron
Delta Omicron () is a co-ed international professional music honors fraternity whose mission is to promote and support excellence in music and musicianship.
History
Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity was founded on September 6, 1909 at ...
, an international professional music fraternity.
Delta Omicron
Composition manuscripts, personal photographs, concert programs, and newspaper features are in the holdings of the Gustav Strube Collection at the Peabody Institute Archives in Baltimore, MD. http://musiclibrary.peabody.jhu.edu/content.php?pid=225964&sid=1871497
Selected works
;Opera
*''Ramona'' (1916)
*''The Captive'' (1938)
;Orchestra
*''Lorelei'' (symphonic poem)
*''Narcissus and Echo (Malfilâtre)'' (symphonic poem)
*''A Peace Overture'' (1945)
*''Puck'' (1910, comedy overture)
*''Sinfonietta'' (little symphony)
*''Symphonic Prologue''
* ''Symphony in B minor'' (1910)
*''Eine Walpurgisnacht'' (symphonic poem)
*''Gethsemane'' (symbolic rhapsody; lyrics by Helen A. Clarke
Helen Archibald Clarke (November 13, 1860 – February 8, 1926) was an American literary critic, book editor, composer and lyricist, and the co-founder of the journal '' Poet Lore''. She was influential in shaping the American literary taste of ...
)
;Concertante
*''Longing'' for viola and orchestra (1905); after the poem by William Lyman Johnson; dedicated to and premiered by Émile Férir with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
*''Fantastic Dance'' for viola and orchestra (1906); dedicated to and premiered by Émile Férir with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
*Concerto in F minor for violin and orchestra (1907)
*Concerto in B minor for violin and orchestra (1927)
*Concerto for violin and orchestra (1943)
*''Élégie'' for cello and orchestra (1907)
*''Romance'' in B major for violin and orchestra (1903)
;Chamber music
*''Berceuse'' for viola and piano (1908)
*''Elegy and Serenade'' for string quartet (with double bass ad libitum) or string orchestra, Op.9 (1902)
*''Concertino'' in D major for violin and piano (1909)
*''Legato, Tempo di Valse'' for piano (1902)
*''Mirages'', 6 Pieces for violin and piano (1914)
*''Rêverie'' in A minor for violin and piano (1906)
*Sonata in E minor for violin and piano (1924)
*Sonata in D minor for viola and piano (1925)
*Sonatina for viola and Piano (1943)
*''Ein Tanz'' (A Dance) in D minor for violin and piano (1906)
*Trio for violin, cello and piano (1928)
*''Two Pictures'' for violin and piano (1924)
*''Vier kleine Stimmungsbilder'' (Four Little Mood-Pictures) for violin and piano (1908)
#''Abendglocken'' (Sunset Chimes)
#''Mondscheinzauber'' (Magic Moonlight)
#''Ein Märchen'' (A Fairy Tale)
#''Morgen'' (Morning)
References
External links
Kentucky Kernel
– article with Gustav Strube biographical information
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strube, Gustav
1867 births
1953 deaths
American classical composers
American conductors (music)
American male conductors (music)
American male classical composers
American opera composers
German conductors (music)
German male conductors (music)
German male classical composers
German opera composers
Male opera composers