Paul Graener facts for kids

Paul Graener

Paul Graener (born January 11, 1872 – died November 13, 1944) was a German composer and conductor. He wrote many operas and orchestral pieces. His music was in the Romanticism style, which means it often showed strong feelings and imagination.

Biography

Early Life and Moving to London

Paul Graener was born in Berlin, Germany. He became an orphan when he was very young. As a boy, he sang soprano and taught himself how to compose music.

In 1896, he moved to London, England. There, he gave music lessons to people. He also worked for a short time as a conductor at the Haymarket Theatre. Before moving, he married Maria Elisabeth Hauschild. They had three children together in London.

Records from the 1901 UK Census show Graener as a "musical director (theatre)". He lived in Hammersmith with Maria and their first two children, Heinz and Paul. His cousin, George, who was an author, also lived with them.

Teaching and Moving Around

Around 1910, Graener moved to Vienna, Austria. He started teaching at the Neues Wiener Konservatorium, a music school. Over the next few years, he moved several times. He lived in Salzburg, Dresden, and Munich.

Eventually, he became a professor of composition at the Leipzig University of Music and Theatre. This was a very important position. In 1925, he left this job to spend all his time composing music.

Later Life and World War II

In 1930, Graener returned to Berlin. He became the director of the Stern'sches Konservatorium. From 1935 to 1941, he was the vice-president of the Reichsmusikkammer. This was a big government job within the Nazi Propaganda Ministry.

It is debated how much Graener truly supported Nazi ideas. However, some sources say he continued to support the government until he died. In the late 1920s, Graener joined the Militant League for German Culture. On April 1, 1933, he became a member of the Nazi Party.

During World War II, his apartment in Berlin was bombed. He and his family had to move many times. They lived in Wiesbaden, Munich, Vienna, and Salzburg. Paul Graener died in Salzburg in 1944, when he was 72 years old.

Musical Style

Paul Graener's music was greatly influenced by the late Romanticism style. He was inspired by famous composers like Richard Strauss and Max Reger.

Works

Operas

• The Faithful Sentry, Op. 1 (first shown in 1899)
• Das Narrengericht, Op. 38 (1913)
• Don Juans letztes Abenteuer, Op. 42 (1914)
• Theophano, Op. 48 (first shown in 1918, Munich)
• Schirin und Gertraude, Op. 51 (1920)
• Hanneles Himmelfahrt, W/o Op. (1927) (based on Gerhart Hauptmann's play The Assumption of Hannele)
• Friedemann Bach, Op. 90 (1931) (based on Albert Emil Brachvogel's novel)
• Der Prinz von Homburg, Op. 100 (1935)
• Schwanhild (1941, first shown January 4, 1942, Cologne)

Orchestral Music

• 2 Stücke, Op. 9
• 3 Stücke, Op. 26
• Sinfonietta for Strings and Harp, Op. 27 (1910)
• Symphony in D Minor Schmied Schmerz (1912, Op. 39)
• Aus dem Reiche des Pan, Op. 22 (1920)
• Romantische Phantasie, Op. 41
• Musik am Abend, Op. 44
• Variationen über ein russisches Volkslied', Op. 55 (from 1926)
• Waldmusik, Op. 60
• Divertimento in D major, Op. 67
• Piano Concerto, Op. 72
• Juventus academica (overture), Op. 73
• Gotische Suite, Op. 74
• Concerto for Cello and Chamber Orchestra, Op. 78 (published in 1927)
• Die Flöte von Sanssouci, Op. 88 (1930)
• Comedietta, Op. 82
• Variationen über Prinz Eugen, Op. 108 (1939)
• Sinfonia breve, Op. 96
• 3 schwedische Tänze, Op. 98
• Violin Concerto, Op. 104
• Feierliche Stunde, Op. 106
• Turmwächterlied, Op. 107 (1938)
• Wiener Sinfonie, Op. 110 (1941, First Performance: Hans Knappertsbusch, Berlin Philharmonic)
• Flute Concerto, Op. 116

Chamber Music

• 4 String Quartets (including Opp. 54, 65 and 80 published 1920-8)
• Suite, Op. 63 for flute and piano (published in 1924)

Other Works

• About 130 songs

See also

In Spanish: Paul Graener para niños