Eric Gross facts for kids

Eric Gross was a talented musician from Austria who became an Australian citizen. He was a wonderful pianist, a creative composer, and a dedicated teacher. He lived from September 16, 1926, to April 17, 2011. He was also honored with the Order of Australia award.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Eric Gross was born in Vienna, Austria. When he was 12, in 1938, his family moved to England. From the age of 14, he started working as a pianist. He played in many different bands and orchestras.

He went on to study music at the Trinity College of Music in London. Later, he continued his studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1957.

After his studies, Eric Gross worked as a musician in places like Ceylon (which is now Sri Lanka) and New Caledonia. In 1958, he decided to make Sydney, Australia, his home.

A Career in Teaching and Composing

Eric Gross began teaching at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music. In 1960, he joined the music department at the University of Sydney. He taught there until he retired in 1991 as an Associate Professor of Music. He even spent time as a visiting professor in Guyana in 1989.

Besides teaching, Gross was a very busy composer, arranger, and conductor. He wrote music for many films made by Film Australia. He also created scores for TV shows from Screen Gems Columbia. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation often asked him to compose music for them. In 1976, he received the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award for his musical works.

Music with a Message

Eric Gross conducted the Pro Musica Society at Sydney University and the St. Andrew's Cathedral Choral Society. He wrote many pieces for the orchestras and choirs he worked with.

Sometimes, his music carried important messages. For example, his orchestral piece Na Shledanou v Praze (which means "Good-bye in Prague") used the Czech national anthem as its main tune. This piece was first performed in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, when the country was occupied by Russia.

He also used meaningful texts in his works. His cantata Pacem in Terris was based on a famous letter about peace written by Pope John XXIII.

Unique Musical Style

Eric Gross loved to include jazz sounds in his music. His travels around the world also influenced his compositions. You could hear hints of Austrian, Scottish, Asian, and South American music in his pieces.

He enjoyed trying new things, especially when working with talented musicians. He wrote three suites for violin and orchestra called Dussekiana I-III. These pieces were based on piano works by an older composer named František Xaver Dušek.

Awards and Recognition

In June 1998, Eric Gross was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This is a special award given to people who have achieved a lot and served their country.

On Australia Day in 2006, he was named the Cultural and Artistic Citizen of the Year for the City of Canada Bay. He continued to compose music and work as an examiner almost until he passed away. Eric Gross died on April 17, 2011. His wife, Pamela, passed away just a week before him.

Selected Works

Here are some of the many musical pieces Eric Gross created:

Opera

• Amorous Judge, Opera in one act, Op. 51 (1965)

Orchestral

• Concert Overture, Op. 1 (1957)
• Sinfonietta, Op. 9 (1961)
• Antubconseas, Op. 11 (1973)
• Fanfopus, Op. 13 (1973)
• Moonscape for string orchestra, Op. 32 (1972)
• Of Strings and Things, Op. 53 (1970)
• Overture "Cymbeline", Op. 90 (1975)
• Na shledanou v Praze (Good-bye in Prague), Op. 94 (1976)
• Concertino for orchestra, Op. 108 (1979)
• Trilogy, Op. 112 (1979)
• Symphony No. 2, Op. 123 (1980)
• Fanfare Scholastic, Op. 129 (1982)
• Golden Jubilee Fantasy, Op. 158 (1987)
• Songs of Australia for string orchestra (1989)
• Little Challenge for string orchestra, Op. 254 (2002)
• Cherries in the Brook, Op. 291 (2006)

Band

• Brassophony for brass band, Op. 146 (1985)
• Concertino for brass band (1987)
• Fanfare for George for brass band, Op. 157 (1987)
• Anniversary fantasy for concert band, Op. 199 (1995)
• Anniversary fantasy revisited for concert band, Op. 199a (1996)
• Penshurst on parade for concert band, Op. 217 (1997)
• March ceremonial: Order of Australia for brass band (2002)

• Dussekiana I for violin and orchestra (1975)
• Dussekiana II for violin and orchestra, Op. 56 (1975)
• Dussekiana III for violin and orchestra, Op. 58 (1975)
• Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 135 (1983)
• Concerto No. 2 for mandolin and orchestra (1986)
• Concerto for oboe and string or chamber orchestra, Op. 152 (1987)

Chamber music

• Trio for flute, oboe and clarinet, Op. 10 (1962)
• Merry Peasant Band for wind quintet, Op. 30 (1959)
• Three Bagatelles for flute solo, Op. 37 (1965)
• Eugel and Marmaduke, Duet for 2 cellos, Op. 62 (1973)
• Three Bagatelles for saxophone solo, Op. 96 (1976)
• Silas Pilgrim Trio for flute, clarinet and bassoon, Op. 97 (1977)
• Plymouth for string quartet, Op. 98 (1976)
• Drummoyne for string quartet, Op. 99 (1976)
• Six Miniatures for trumpet, trombone and tuba, Op. 103 (1978)
• Three Sketches for trumpet and piano, Op. 121 (1980)
• Study No. 1 for Misha for violin and piano, Op. 130 (1982)
• Cadenza I for mandolin solo, Op. 153, No. 1 (1986)
• Cadenza II for mandolin solo, Op. 153, No. 2 (1986)
• Cadenza III for mandolin solo, Op. 153, No. 3 (1990)
• Saxophone Quartet No. 1, Op. 155 (1987)
• Mandigar I for 2 mandolins, mandola and guitar, Op. 156 (1987)
• Paul and Adrian, Duet for 2 mandolins, Op. 165 (1989)
• Tres Piezas para Teresa for guitar solo, Op. 166 (1989)
• Two Pieces for violin and organ, Op. 167 (1989)
• Barbara and Deborah, Duet for 2 mandolins, Op. 175 (1990)
• Romance for mandolin and organ, Op. 177 (1990)
• Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 183 (1992)
• Cadenza IV for mandolin solo, Op. 185, No. 2 (1991)
• Cadenza V for mandolin solo, Op. 185, No. 3 (1991)
• Triptych for violin solo (1992)
• Mandigar II for 2 mandolins, mandola and guitar, Op. 190 (1993)
• Bagatelle for trombone and piano, Op. 196 (1994)
• Four Movements for horn, trumpet, flugelhorn and 2 trombones, Op. 201 (1995)
• Three Simple Pieces for trumpet and piano, Op. 205 (1995)
• Fantasia for trumpet and piano, Op. 213 (1996)
• Invention No. 1 for viola and piano, Op. 216, No. 1a (1998)
• Five Dialogues for 2 flutes, Op. 219 (1997)
• Concerto da camera for mandolin, violin, viola, cello, Op. 220 (1997)
• Cadenza VI for mandolin solo, Op. 220a (1998)
• Suite for trombone quartet, Op. 221 (1997)
• Sequence of Happiness for mandolin and piano, Op. 222 (1997)
• Frantaphonics for saxophone solo, Op. 228 (1998)
• Euphonism I B for viola and piano, Op. 230 (1998)
• Cadenza VII for mandolin solo, Op. 231 (1998)
• Cadenza VIII for mandolin solo, Op. 239 (1999)
• For a Gentle Soul for 2 mandolins, mandola, guitar and double bass, Op. 248 (2000)
• Sonata for mandolin and piano, Op. 251 (2001)
• Concert fantasia, for button accordion (bayan) and string quartet, op. 252 (2001)
• Three Inventions for saxophone solo, Op. 253 (2001)
• Cadenza X for mandolin solo, Op. 255 (2001)
• Euphonics for cello and piano, Op. 256 (2002)
• Euphonics II for bassoon and piano, Op. 258 (2002)
• Euphonics III for bass clarinet and piano, Op. 259 (2002)
• Altophonics for clarinet and piano, Op. 260 (2002)
• Romance Bitonal for violin and piano, Op. 263 (2002)
• Violamorosa for viola and piano, Op. 268 (2002)
• Cadenza XI for trombone solo, Op. 272 (2003)
• Cadenza XII for trombone solo, Op. 272b (2007)
• Two Cellos Go Meandering, Duet for 2 cellos, Op. 284 (2005)
• Discussion for flute and viola, Op. 296 (2006)
• Trialogue for mezzo-soprano (and claves), flute and viola, Op. 296a (2006)
• Cadenza 10.5 for mandolin solo, Op. 299 (2007)
• Suite Latin American for saxophone quartet, Op. 302 (2008)

Harpsichord

• Toccata "Not at Three", Op. 226 (1998)

Organ

• Wedding March, Op. 61 (1971)
• Two Pieces, Op. 42 (1972)
• Processional (1972)
• Organ Prelude on "The Shepherd of Bethlehem", Op. 95 (1976)
• Bridal March, Op. 104 (1978)
• Recessional, Op. 126 (1981)
• Centormedique, Op. 136 (1983)
• Postlude for Carol and Paul, Op. 218 (1997)
• Meditation on a Blessed Spirit, Op. 235 (1999)
• Sydney Sojourn, Op. 246 (2000)
• Music of the Heart, Op. 271 (2003)
• Grace of Our Lord, Op. 276 (2004)
• Mary Immaculate, Op. 277 (2004)
• Hymn to the Virgin Mary, Op. 278 (2004)
• In the Stillness of the Evening, Op. 280 (2004)
• O God beyond All Time and Space, Op. 285 (2005)

Piano

• Moon Interlude (1972)
• Little Jazzeroo (1989)
• Klavierstucke I, Op. 120 (1982)
• Klavierstucke II, Op. 127 (1982)
• Thanksgiving, Op. 149 (1986)
• Klavierstucke III, Op. 150 (1986)
• Five Simple Pieces, Op. 169 (1989)
  • No. 4 Sydney Harbour Blues (1989)
• Sonata piccola, Op. 188 (1992)
• Miniature for Ray, Op. 195 (1994)
• Glebe Island Minuet, Op. 204 (1995)
• Pensive Prelude, Op. 208 (1996)
• Nostalgic Interlude, Op. 209 (1996)
• Klavierstück IV, Op. 225 (1998)
• Klavierstück V, Op. 243 (2000)
• Idyll for Idil, Op. 244 (2000)
• Jeanelligans, Op. 247 (2000)
• Sally in the Mallee, Op. 250 (2001)
• Sallymede, Op. 262 (2002)
• Sally in a Maze, Op. 290 (2004)
• Golden Swan, Op. 292 (2006)
• Marita's Farewell, Op. 294 (2006)
• Three Fancies, Op. 298 (2007)
• Playful Sally, Op. 300 (2007)
• What Is Time, Op. 301 (2007)

Vocal

• Two Songs for soprano and piano, Op. 45 (1958)
• Five Burns Settings for bass and piano, Op. 49 (1970)
• Three Songs for soprano, clarinet and piano, Op. 139
• Sweet Silence after Bells for mezzo-soprano and piano, Op. 206 (1995)
• The Maid's Lament for mezzo-soprano, flute, viola and harp, Op. 293 (2006)
• Donne Trilogy for tenor and piano, Op. 281 (2005)