Biographical Sketches

From "The Worlds Best Music" © 1908

Gounod, Charles Francois
Born in Paris, June 17, 1818.
After receiving an early musical education from his mother, an accomplished pianist, and taking a preparatory course at the Lycee St. Louis, in 1836 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied under Reicha, Halevy, Lesueur, and Paer, winning the second Prix de Rome with the contata "Marie Stuart et Rizio". He later spent a number of years in Italy studying the earlier masters, especially Palestrina. His first important compositions were produced in 1841-43. Church music claimed his attention, but later the theater occupied him for many years.

Gounod at one time intended to become a priest, and while studying for this office he obtained a wide knowledge of books and men. The years 1845-50 he spent largely in studying Schumann and Berlioz. From 1852 to 1860 he was conductor of the Orpheon in Paris. After experiencing several failures in Paris, he produced his celebrated "Faust" (1859) at the Theatre Lyrique, and this opera at length placed him in the first rank of contemporary composers. His "La Reine de Saba" (1862) did not equal expectations. After this he produced several well received pieces, marked, however, more by lyric than by dramatic qualities. Among them are "Mireille" (1864) and "Romeo and Juliet" (1867), the latter being one of his greater operas. During the Franco-German War and for time afterward he lived in England, where his successful work gave a fresh impulse to musical enterprise. IN 1866 he was elected to the Institut de France.

Besides those already mentioned, Gounod's operas inlcude "Sappho" (1851), "Le Medecin Malgre Lui" (1858), "Philemon et Baucis" (1860), "Cinq-Mars" (1877), "Polyeucte" (1878), and others. His church music - the oratorios "La Redemption" (1882), "Mors et Vita" (1885), etc. - is marked by noble spiritual feeling and often attains to choral grandeur. As a song writer Gounod has taken high rank in critical estimation.
He died in St. Cloud, October 18, 1893.

Gregh, Louis
Born in Philippeville, Algeria, March 15, 1843.
He is the author of various works, including the operetta "La Lycee des Jeunes Filles", a ballet entitled "Arlette", numerous popular songs, and over one hundred and fifty pianoforte pieces for two, four, and six hands.

Gretry, Andre Ernest Modeste
Born in Leige, Belgium, February 8, 1741.
Having studied for several years in Rome, he went to Paris, where he wrote "Le Huron" and about fifty other operas. His further compositions include sonatas and church music. His influence on the development of French comic opera was far reaching. Gretry's social and literary connections gave him an importance even beyond that due to his very successful career as a musician. At court he had many influential patrons, and distinguished appointments came to him. Napoleon made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and granted him a pension.
He died in Monmorency, near Paris, September 24, 1813.

Grieg, Edvard
Born in Bergen, Norway, June 15, 1843.
His mother was his first teacher, instructing him in the rudiments of music and in the principles of the pianoforet. He then went to the conservatory in Leipzig, where he studied under such noted masters as Richter, Hauptmann, Tierz, Reinecke, Wenzel, and Moscheles. Leaving Leipzig in 1862, he turned to Copenhagen, where his acquaintance with Gade, Emil Hartmann, and Rikard Nordraak, inspired him to trust to his own genius and the genius of the country, and to write "true Norse songs". In 1867 Grieg made his home in Christiania. Here he founded a musical society, which he conducted with great success, relinquishing it however in 1880. Grieg is the foremost Norwegian composer of recent years. His genius is close to that of the people, his work being saturated with the folk lore spirit, and with brilliant local coloring. For sustained composition, such as is necessitated by operas and orchestral pieces, Grieg has shown little capacity. The higher forms of chamber music are his especial forte, and through them he has earned both fame and influence.
He died in Bergen, September 4, 1907.

Guilmant, Felix Alexandre
Born in Boulogne, France, March 12, 1837.
His father was an organist of the Church of St. Nicholas and from him the son received his first musical instruction. Later, he was taught by Gustave Carulli, and in 1860 by Lemmens. Before this time, however, and before he had completed his musical studies, he was appointed organist of the Church of St. Joseph, and maitre de chapelle of the St. Nicholas Church. Later, he was elected professor of solfege in the Ecole Connunale, director of the Boulogne Societe Orpheonique, and a member of the Societe Philharmonique. In 1871 he removed to Paris, and took the position of organist of the Church of La Trinite. His compositions includes masses for organ and orchestra, sonatas, symphonies, and motets. His reputation rest largely, however, upon his brilliant playing. He made several tours in England, Italy, Russia, and America, always with complete success.

Gurlitt, Cornelius
Born in Altona, Germany, February 10, 1820.
He was a professor in the conservatory at Hamburg. Among his publications were quartets, trios, sonatas for 'cello, for piano, and for violin, and several operas.
He died in Altona, June 17, 1901.

Haberbier, Ernst
Born in Konnisgberg, (Prussia), Germany, October 5, 1813.
In 1832 he went to St. Petersburg, where he taught and performed upon the piano. From 1850 he undertook concert tours in which he made a distinguished success, largely on account of his mastery over technical difficulties. In 1866 he settled as a teacher in Bergen, Norway. His compositions are collected under the title of "Etudes Poetiques".
He died in Bergen, March 12, 1869.

Handel, Georg Friedrich
(English form, George Frederick Handel)
Born in Halle, Prussian Saxony, February 23, 1685.
His father, intending him for the law, at first did all he could to discourage his musical development; but the boy hid in the attic a small clavichord, upon which he practiced while the rest of the family slept. At the age of seven he went with his father to visit a step brother employed in the household of the Duke of Sexe-Weissenfels. During this visit the Duke, happening to hear him play upon the chapel organ, was so impressed with the boys performance that he persuaded the father to let his son follow his own inclination, and on returning to Halle he was placed under the tuition of Zachau.

Until 1705 Handel held various minor positions, but in that year he produced at Hamburg his first opera, "Almira" and soon after it "Nero". Later he went to Italy, where he brought out "Rodrigo" and "Agrippina". On his return to Germany in 1709 he became kapellmeister to the Elector George of Hanover, afterward George I of England, with whose permission in 1710 he went to London. There in 1711 he produced his opera "Rinaldo". In 1718 he became musical director to the Duke of Chandos, and within three years composed the Chandos "Te Deums" and Chandos anthems, which alone would have immortalized his name. In 1720 he was placed at the head of the new Royal Academy of Music, where Ariosti and Buononcini were also engaged, and a famous rivalry and feud followed, the field at last being left to Handel, although he ruined himself financially. Before 1740, in spite of pecuniary failures, he produced more than twenty operas.

Handel's oratorios, whereby he retrieved his fortunes, constitute the chief foundation of his fame. Among the best known are: "Saul" (1739); "Israel in Egypt" (1739); "The Messiah" (1742); still the most famous oratorio ever written; "Samson" (1743); "Judas Macabaeus" (1747). His compositions include twenty-three works of this class.

The musical powers of Handel can hardly be too highly estimated. If in operatic and instrumental music later composers have surpassed him, none has ever equaled him in the strength and sublimity ofhis choruses, and in oratorio his supremacy is undisputed.
He died in London, April 14, 1759.