Grové, Stefans

Grové, Stefans, South African composer and teacher; b. Bethlehem, Orange Free State, July 23, 1922. He studied with his mother and his uncle, David Roode, and learned to play the piano and organ. He continued his piano training in Cape Town at the South African Coll. of Music (diploma, 1948) and was a student in composition of W.H. Bell (1945-46). In 1953 he went to the U.S. on a Fulbright scholarship and pursued his studies at Harvard Univ., taking the M.A. in musicology and the M.Mus. under Piston in 1955; he also studied composition with Copland at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood (summer, 1954). After teaching at Bard Coll. in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. (1956-57), he was on the faculty of the Peabody Cons, of Music in Baltimore (1957-71). In 1972 he was a lecturer at the South African Coll. of Music, and then taught theory and composition at the Univ. of Pretoria from 1974. With the composition of his Violin Sonata on African motives (1984), he has pursued a style which is characterized by the incorporation of African elements in his music. These ethnic elements consist mainly of rhythmic and melodic procedures, resulting in complex rhythmic patterns with constant metric changes, as well as ostinato figures with constant changes.

Works

DRAMATIC Opera: Die bose Wind (1983). B a l l e t : Waratha (1977); Pinocchio (1983). ORCH.: Elegy for Strings (1948); Overture (1953); Sinfonia concertante (1956); Violin Concerto (1959); Sym. (1962); Partita (1964); Concerto grosso for Violin, Cello, Piano, and Orch. (1974); Maya, concerto grosso for Violin, Piano, and Strings (1977); Kettingrye for Instrumentalists and Orch. (1978); Vladimir’s Round Table, symphonic poem (1982); Suite Concertato for Harpsichord and Strings (1985); Dance Rhapsody—An African City (1985); Concertato Overture on 2 Zulu Themes (1988); Overture Itubi, festival dance for Youth Orch. (1992). CHAMBER: 2 string quartets (1946, 1955); String Trio (1948); Clarinet Sonata (1949); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1952); Serenade for Flute, Oboe, Viola, Bass Clarinet, and Harp (1952); Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1952); Cello Sonata (1953); Quintet for Harp and Strings (1954); Divertimento for Recorders (1955); Flute Sonata (1955); Daarstelling for Flute, Harpsichord, and Strings (1972); Die nag van 3 April for Flute and Harpsichord (1975); Vir ’n winterdag for Bassoon and Piano (1977); Gesprek vir drie for Oboe, Clarinet, and Percussion (1978); Symphonia quattuor cordis for Violin (1980); Suite Juventuti for Winds and Percussion (1982); Jeu de Timbres for Percussion (1983); Violin Sonata (1984); Quintet—A City Serenade for Flute or Alto Flute, Clarinet or Bass Clarinet, Viola, Cello, and Harp (1985); Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano (1988); Song of the African Spirits for String Quartet (1993). KEYBOARD : Piano : 3 Inventions (1951); Stylistic Experiment, 12 pieces (1971); Tweespalt for Piano, Left-hand (1975); Songs and Dances from Africa, 7 etudes (1988); The Blus Dream Valley, 4 fantasy pieces (1992). Organ : Ritual (1969); Chorale Prelude on Psalm 42 (1974); Rhapsodic Toccata (1977); Afrika Hymnus, concert fantasy (1991). VOCAL: Cantata profana for 2 Voices, Flute, Oboe, Harpsichord, and Cello (1959); Sym. for Chorus and Orch. (1975); 5 Ingrid Jonker Songs for Soprano and Piano (1982); Gram’s Caterva Fidelium for Children’s Chorus and Piano (1985); 7 Songs on Bushman Poems for Soprano, String Quartet, and Piano (1990); Zulu Horizons for Baritone and Orch. (1992).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire