Jean-Jacques Grunenwald
Encyclopedia
Jean-Jacques Grunenwald was a French organist
, composer
, architect
, and pedagogue.
, Haute-Savoie
. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he received first prizes in organ (1935, class of Marcel Dupré
) and composition (1937, class of Henri Busser
). Two years later, Grunenwald won the prestigious Second Grand Prix de Rome for his cantata, La farce du Mari fondu. Additionally to his musical education, Grunenwald was enrolled at the École National des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he graduated in 1941 with a diploma in architecture.
In 1955, Grunenwald became organist at St. Pierre-de-Montrouge in Paris. Two years later, he began a recording of the complete organ works of J. S. Bach on 24 LPs (a world premiere), which he completed in 1962. This recording was made at Soissons Cathedral
with its Gonzales organ.
From 1957-1961, he was professor of organ at the Schola Cantorum
in Paris, from 1961-1966 organ teacher at the Geneva
Conservatory. Among his students were Jean-Pierre Decavèle, Raffi Ourgandijan, and Louis Robilliard.
In January 1973, Jean-Jacques Grunenwald succeeded his former teacher, Marcel Dupré
, as titular organist at St. Sulpice in Paris. He held this post until his death in 1982 at age 71.
As an internationally acknowledged concert organist, he played more than 1,500 recitals worldwide.
His catalog of compositions contains numerous organ and piano works, chamber music, orchestral works, oratorios, as well as music written for several films, such as Monsieur Vincent (1947).
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, and pedagogue.
Life and work
Jean-Jacques Grunenwald was born in 1911 in Cran-GevrierCran-Gevrier
Cran-Gevrier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Cran-Gevrier is in the east of Annecy. Part of the city is on a hill . The hamlet of Cran was on the level of the Thiou river...
, Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he received first prizes in organ (1935, class of Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
) and composition (1937, class of Henri Busser
Henri Büsser
Henri Büsser was a French classical composer, organist, and conductor.- Biography :Paul-Henri Büsser was born in Toulouse, of partly Teutonic ancestry. He entered the Conservatoire in Paris in 1889; there he studied organ with César Franck and composition with Ernest Guiraud...
). Two years later, Grunenwald won the prestigious Second Grand Prix de Rome for his cantata, La farce du Mari fondu. Additionally to his musical education, Grunenwald was enrolled at the École National des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he graduated in 1941 with a diploma in architecture.
In 1955, Grunenwald became organist at St. Pierre-de-Montrouge in Paris. Two years later, he began a recording of the complete organ works of J. S. Bach on 24 LPs (a world premiere), which he completed in 1962. This recording was made at Soissons Cathedral
Soissons Cathedral
Soissons Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral in Soissons, France. The construction of the south transept was begun about 1177, and the lowest courses of the choir in 1182. The choir with its original three-storey elevation and extremely tall clerestory was completed in 1211...
with its Gonzales organ.
From 1957-1961, he was professor of organ at the Schola Cantorum
Schola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum de Paris is a private music school in Paris. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Bordes, Alexandre Guilmant and Vincent d'Indy as a counterbalance to the Paris Conservatoire's emphasis on opera...
in Paris, from 1961-1966 organ teacher at the Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Conservatory. Among his students were Jean-Pierre Decavèle, Raffi Ourgandijan, and Louis Robilliard.
In January 1973, Jean-Jacques Grunenwald succeeded his former teacher, Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
, as titular organist at St. Sulpice in Paris. He held this post until his death in 1982 at age 71.
As an internationally acknowledged concert organist, he played more than 1,500 recitals worldwide.
His catalog of compositions contains numerous organ and piano works, chamber music, orchestral works, oratorios, as well as music written for several films, such as Monsieur Vincent (1947).
Organ Solo
- Première Suite (1937)
- Deuxième Suite (1938)
- Berceuse (1939)
- Quatre Élevations (1939)
- Hymne aux Mémoires héroïques (1939)
- Hymne à la Splendeur des Clartés (1940)
- Variations brèves sur un Noël du XVIe Siècle Je me suis levé (1949)
- Cinq Pièces pour l'Office Divin (1952)
- Fugue sur les jeux d'anches (1954)
- Diptyque liturgique (1956)
- Hommage à Josquin des Près (1956)
- Introduction et aria (1956)
- Messe du Très Saint Sacrement (1960)
- Adoratio (1964)
- Sonate (1964)
- Pièce en Mosaïque (Contrastes) (1966)
- Pastorale mystique (1968)
- Oppositions (1976)
- Postlude alleluiatique (1977)
Piano Solo
- Prélude (1936)
- La melodie intérieure (1944)
- Fantasmagorie (Scherzo) (1946)
- Cahier pour Gérard: cinq pièces (1948)
- Capriccio pour piano... (1958)
- Partita (1971)
Piano and Orchestra
- Concerto (1940)
- Concert d'été for piano and string orchestra (1944)
Miscellaneous Works
- Suite de danses for harpsichord or piano (1948)
- Fantaisie-arabesque for harpsichord (or piano), oboe, clarinet in A and bassoon(1950)
- Sardanapale: drame lyrique en trois actes (1950)
- Variations sur un thème de Machaut for harpsichord (1957)
- Henry Barraud (1900–1997): Te Deum for orchestra, transcription for choirs and organ by Jean-Jacques Grunenwald (1957)
- Psaume CXXIX (De profundis) for mixted choir and orchestra (1961)
- Tu es Petrus for choir and two organs (1965)
- Fantaisie en dialogue for organ and orchestra (1965)
- Sonate de concert for trumpet and string orchestra or trumpet and organ (1967)
Film Music
- Les Anges du Péché (1943, directed by Robert BressonRobert Bresson-Life and career:Bresson was born at Bromont-Lamothe, Puy-de-Dôme, the son of Marie-Élisabeth and Léon Bresson. Little is known of his early life and the year of his birth, 1901 or 1907, varies depending on the source. He was educated at Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, close to Paris, and...
) - Falbalas (1945, directed by Jacques Becker)
- Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945, directed by Robert BressonRobert Bresson-Life and career:Bresson was born at Bromont-Lamothe, Puy-de-Dôme, the son of Marie-Élisabeth and Léon Bresson. Little is known of his early life and the year of his birth, 1901 or 1907, varies depending on the source. He was educated at Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, close to Paris, and...
) - Dernier refuge (1947, directed by Marc Maurette)
- Antoine et Antoinette (1947, directed by Jacques Becker)
- Monsieur Vincent (1947, directed by Maurice Cloche)
- Docteur Laennec (1949, directed by Maurice Cloche)
- La Route inconnue (1949, directed by Léon Poirier)
- Le Journal d'un curé de campagneDiary of a Country PriestDiary of a Country Priest is a 1951 French film directed by Robert Bresson, and starring Claude Laydu. It was closely based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bernanos. Published in 1937, the novel received the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française...
(1951, directed by Robert BressonRobert Bresson-Life and career:Bresson was born at Bromont-Lamothe, Puy-de-Dôme, the son of Marie-Élisabeth and Léon Bresson. Little is known of his early life and the year of his birth, 1901 or 1907, varies depending on the source. He was educated at Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, close to Paris, and...
) - Édouard et Caroline (1951, directed by Jacques Becker)
- La Vérité sur Bébé Donge (1952, directed by Henri Decoin)
- La Demoiselle et son revenant (1952, directed by Marc Allégret)
- Mina de Vanghel (1953, directed by Maurice Barry and Maurice Clavel)
- L'Étrange désir de Monsieur BardL'Étrange Désir de monsieur BardL'Étrange Désir de monsieur Bard , is a French drama film from 1954, directed by Géza von Radványi, written by Géza von Radványi, starring Michel Simon and Louis de Funès.- Cast :* Michel Simon : Auguste Bard* Yves Deniaud : Antonio...
(1953, directed by Géza von RadványiGéza von RadványiGéza von Radványi , was a Hungarian film director, cinematographer, producer and writer.- Biography :...
) - Les Amants de Tolède (1953, directed by Henri Decoin and Fernando Palacios)
- Le Rideau cramoisi (1953, directed by Alexandre Astruc)
- Navigation marchande atlantique (1954, directed by Georges Franju)
- Le Chevalier de la nuitLe Chevalier de la nuitLe Chevalier de la nuit , is a French comedy film from 1953, directed by Robert Darène, written by Jean Anouilh, starring Renée Saint-Cyr and Louis de Funès...
(1954, directed by Robert Darène) - Le Défroqué (1954, directed by Léo Joannon)
- L'Homme aux clefs d'or (1956, directed by Léo Joannon)
- S.O.S. NoronhaS.O.S. NoronhaS.O.S. Noronha is a French adventure film from 1957, directed by Georges Rouquier, written by Pierre Boileau, starring Jean Marais. The scenario was based on a novel of Pierre Viré.- Cast :* Jean Marais : Frédéric Coulibaud* Daniel Ivernel : Mastic...
(1957, directed by Georges Rouquier) - Les Aventures d'Arsène Lupin (1957, directed by Jacques Becker)
- À cause, à cause d'une femme (1963, directed by Michel Deville)