Christian Grube
Encyclopedia
Christian J Grube is a German choral conductor.
, Germany
. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik and at the Kirchenmusikschule in Hanover, majoring in conducting, voice, flute, organ, and Renaissance instruments. During his studies he became an experienced oratorio soloist, and also organized choral workshops in Germany and Switzerland.
. To recruit young singers for the Kantorei, the Lutheran Church of Hanover/Lower Saxony and the state of Lower Saxony
linked the position of choirmaster (Kantor) at St. Michael’s with that of music teacher/choirmaster at the Gymnasium Andreanum. Grube held this dual position until 1973; his reputation there earned him an invitation to the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin.
In 1973 Grube became Professor for liturgy, hymnology, and choral conducting at the Berlin University of the Arts
(formerly Hochschule der Künste), as well as director of the Staats- und Domchor, Berlin (the State and Cathedral Choir). As its dual name suggests, the Staats- und Domchor was active both in government and church activities, singing regularly in the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche as the “bishop's choir”, and also at official functions as the “state choir”.
In 1975 Prof. Grube founded the Chamber Choir of the Berlin University of the Arts
(Kammerchor der Universität der Künste).
Under his leadership, these two choirs frequently toured North and South America, the former Soviet Union,
Egypt, Israel, Korea, Taiwan, and Africa, in addition to all of the European countries. These
concert tours included lectures and workshops, as well as radio and television productions. His choirs
have performed with Herbert von Karajan
, Seiji Ozawa
, Zubin Mehta
, Riccardo Chailly
, and Mauricio Kagel
; with
the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
, the Deutsche Oper Berlin
, the Berliner Ensemble
, and the Komische Oper; with
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
, Edita Gruberová
, and Thomas Quasthoff
(who began his singing career in Grube's children's
choir in Hildesheim
).
Grube served as an adjudicator in German national choir competitions, as well as in Hungary, Poland, and in the California International Choral Festival and Competition in San Luis Obispo.
He served as guest conductor and held choral workshops and conducting master classes in Sweden, Spain, Russia, Israel, Korea, and the United States.
In June 2006 he became Artistic Director and Conductor of the Santa Cruz Chorale.
As emeritus professor Christian Grube spends part of the year in Berlin, teaching conducting classes at the Berlin University of the Arts
, and performing and touring with the university Chamber Choir.
Every summer he holds conducting master classes and is a guest conductor in Granollers
in Catalonia
, Spain
.
As he has done for many years, he writes reviews of newly published music for
Bärenreiter-Verlag
.
Grube spends part of each year in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California
,
where he conducts the Santa Cruz Chorale and gives private conducting lessons.
came down, Grube was able to re-establish connections with the Dom in former East Berlin, thus making it possible for the choir to return to its original home.
Grube conducted the Staats- und Domchor in Maurice Jarre
's music for the movie I Dreamed of Africa
.
A whole generation of singers in German choirs studied with Grube or his students. His students have become conducting professors, music teachers, and opera singers in various countries (e.g.,
Blanca Anabitarte,
Christian Baehrens,
Eileen Chang,
Kristian Commichau,
Josep Vila Jover,
Jan Kobow
, Frank Markowitsch,
Siegfrid Pockern,
Michael Riedel,
Ralf Sochaczewsky, and Matthias Stoffels).
Arvo Pärt
dedicated his now well-known Magnificat
to Christian Grube and his boys' choir after they won the first prize in the German National Choral Competition.
Education
Christian Grube was born in HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik and at the Kirchenmusikschule in Hanover, majoring in conducting, voice, flute, organ, and Renaissance instruments. During his studies he became an experienced oratorio soloist, and also organized choral workshops in Germany and Switzerland.
Career
In 1964 Grube was chosen for a new position at St. Michael's Church, HildesheimSt. Michael's Church, Hildesheim
The Church of St. Michael in Hildesheim, Germany, is an early-Romanesque church. It has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985.-History:...
. To recruit young singers for the Kantorei, the Lutheran Church of Hanover/Lower Saxony and the state of Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
linked the position of choirmaster (Kantor) at St. Michael’s with that of music teacher/choirmaster at the Gymnasium Andreanum. Grube held this dual position until 1973; his reputation there earned him an invitation to the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin.
In 1973 Grube became Professor for liturgy, hymnology, and choral conducting at the Berlin University of the Arts
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
(formerly Hochschule der Künste), as well as director of the Staats- und Domchor, Berlin (the State and Cathedral Choir). As its dual name suggests, the Staats- und Domchor was active both in government and church activities, singing regularly in the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche as the “bishop's choir”, and also at official functions as the “state choir”.
In 1975 Prof. Grube founded the Chamber Choir of the Berlin University of the Arts
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
(Kammerchor der Universität der Künste).
Under his leadership, these two choirs frequently toured North and South America, the former Soviet Union,
Egypt, Israel, Korea, Taiwan, and Africa, in addition to all of the European countries. These
concert tours included lectures and workshops, as well as radio and television productions. His choirs
have performed with Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
, Seiji Ozawa
Seiji Ozawa
is a Japanese conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of large-scale late Romantic works. He is most known for his work as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Vienna State Opera.-Early years:...
, Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Riccardo Chailly
Riccardo Chailly
Riccardo Chailly, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian conductor. He started his career as an opera conductor and gradually extended his repertoire to encompass symphonic music.-Biography:...
, and Mauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel was a German-Argentine composer. He was notable for his interest in developing the theatrical side of musical performance .-Biography:...
; with
the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
The Berlin Philharmonic, German: , formerly Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester , is an orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. In 2006, a group of ten European media outlets voted the Berlin Philharmonic number three on a list of "top ten European Orchestras", after the Vienna Philharmonic and the...
, the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin
The Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera company located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The resident building is also home to the Berlin State Ballet.-History:...
, the Berliner Ensemble
Berliner Ensemble
The Berliner Ensemble is a German theatre company established by playwright Bertolt Brecht and his wife, Helene Weigel in January 1949 in East Berlin...
, and the Komische Oper; with
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is a retired German lyric baritone and conductor of classical music, one of the most famous lieder performers of the post-war period and "one of the supreme vocal artists of the 20th century"...
, Edita Gruberová
Edita Gruberová
Edita Gruberová , is a Slovak soprano who is one of the most acclaimed coloraturas of recent decades. She is noted for her great tonal clarity, agility, dramatic interpretation, and ability to sing high notes with great power, which made her an ideal Queen of the Night in her early years...
, and Thomas Quasthoff
Thomas Quasthoff
Thomas Quasthoff is a German bass-baritone. Although his reputation was initially based on his performance of Romantic lieder, Quasthoff has proven to have a remarkable range from the Baroque cantatas of Bach to solo jazz improvisations.-Biography:Quasthoff was born in Hildesheim, Germany, with...
(who began his singing career in Grube's children's
choir in Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
).
Grube served as an adjudicator in German national choir competitions, as well as in Hungary, Poland, and in the California International Choral Festival and Competition in San Luis Obispo.
He served as guest conductor and held choral workshops and conducting master classes in Sweden, Spain, Russia, Israel, Korea, and the United States.
In June 2006 he became Artistic Director and Conductor of the Santa Cruz Chorale.
As emeritus professor Christian Grube spends part of the year in Berlin, teaching conducting classes at the Berlin University of the Arts
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
, and performing and touring with the university Chamber Choir.
Every summer he holds conducting master classes and is a guest conductor in Granollers
Granollers
Granollers is a city near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and most densely populated city of the comarca of Vallès Oriental.Granollers is a bustling business centre, and many industries are located there...
in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
As he has done for many years, he writes reviews of newly published music for
Bärenreiter-Verlag
Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter is a German classical music publishing house based in Kassel. The firm was founded by Karl Vötterle in Augsburg in 1923, and moved to Kassel in 1927, where it still maintains headquarters; it also has offices in Basel, London, New York and Prague...
.
Grube spends part of each year in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
,
where he conducts the Santa Cruz Chorale and gives private conducting lessons.
Highlights
In 1989 the Staats- und Domchor was selected to sing at the German reunification ceremony . After the Berlin WallBerlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
came down, Grube was able to re-establish connections with the Dom in former East Berlin, thus making it possible for the choir to return to its original home.
Grube conducted the Staats- und Domchor in Maurice Jarre
Maurice Jarre
Maurice-Alexis Jarre was a French composer and conductor.Although he composed several concert works, he is best known for his film scores, and is particularly known for his collaborations with film director David Lean. Jarre composed the scores to all of Lean's films since Lawrence of Arabia...
's music for the movie I Dreamed of Africa
I Dreamed of Africa
I Dreamed of Africa is a 2000 film starring Kim Basinger, Vincent Perez, Eve Marie Saint, Garrett Strommen, Liam Aiken and Daniel Craig. It is based on the autobiographical novel I Dreamed of Africa by Kuki Gallmann, an Italian writer who moved to Kenya and became involved in conservation work...
.
A whole generation of singers in German choirs studied with Grube or his students. His students have become conducting professors, music teachers, and opera singers in various countries (e.g.,
Blanca Anabitarte,
Christian Baehrens,
Eileen Chang,
Kristian Commichau,
Josep Vila Jover,
Jan Kobow
Jan Kobow
Jan Kobow is a German classical tenor in concert, Lied and Baroque opera.-Professional career:Jan Kobow was born and raised in Berlin. He was a singer and soloist of the Staats- und Domchor, Berlin with Christian Grube. He studied the organ at the Schola Cantorum in Paris and graduated in church...
, Frank Markowitsch,
Siegfrid Pockern,
Michael Riedel,
Ralf Sochaczewsky, and Matthias Stoffels).
Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian classical composer and one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-made compositional technique, tintinnabuli. His music also finds its inspiration and influence from...
dedicated his now well-known Magnificat
Magnificat (Pärt)
Magnificat was composed in 1989 by Arvo Pärt. A setting of the Latin Magnificat text, it is in tintinnabuli style, which was invented by Pärt in the mid 1970s. It is scored...
to Christian Grube and his boys' choir after they won the first prize in the German National Choral Competition.