Grädener, Carl (Georg Peter)

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Grädener, Carl (Georg Peter)

Grädener, Carl (Georg Peter), German cellist, conductor, teacher, and composer, father of Hermann (Theodor Otto) Grädener; b. Rostock, Jan. 14, 1812; d. Hamburg, June 10, 1883. He studied cello with Mattstedt in Altona, and then pursued training in law in Halle and Göttingen (1832-33). After serving as a cellist in Helsinki (1835-38), he was music director of the Univ. of Kiel (1838-48). He then went to Hamburg, where he was founder-director of a concert and vocal academy (1851-61). After serving as prof. of voice and composition at the Vienna Cons. (1862-65), he returned to Hamburg and taught at the Cons, until 1873. He publ. Gesammelte Aufsatze (Hamburg, 1872) and System der Harmonielehre (Hamburg, 1877). Among his compositions were the operas König Harold and Der Mullerin Hochzeit, 2 syms., the overture Fiesco, a Piano Concerto, a Romance for Violin and Orch., chamber music, and many piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire