A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Grädener, Carl

GRÄDENER, Carl G. P., born Jan. 14, 1812, at Rostock, received his first musical employment as a violoncellist at Helsingfors. After three years he went to Kiel and was appointed Musikdirector to the University there, a post which he retained for ten years. In 1851 he founded an academy for vocal music at Hamburg, and remained there until in 1862 he was appointed to teach singing and theory in the Vienna Conservatorium. After three years he returned to Hamburg, where the rest of his life was spent. In 1867 he joined F. W. Grund in forming the Hamburger Tonkünstlerverein, the presidentship of which he held for some years. As a composer of chamber music, the chief interest of which centres in the ingenuity and freshness of its harmonies and the excellence of its form, he is justly esteemed. His works include two pianoforte quintets, two trios, three string quartets, an octet, two symphonies, besides a concerto, a sonata, and many pieces for the piano. He died at Hamburg, June 11, 1883. His son Hermann, born May 8, 1844, at Kiel, entered the Vienna Conservatorium in 1862; in 1864 was appointed organist at Gumpendorf, and became a member of the court orchestra in Vienna. In 1874 he was appointed teacher of harmony, etc., in the Conservatorium, and in 1882 received the title of Professor. In 1886 he became director of the academical society for orchestral music, and of the academical Gesangverein. His compositions, though not numerous, show very strong individuality. As in the case of his father, he is at his best in chamber music; his piano quintet has been played in London with success. His 'Lustspielouvertüre' and an octet for strings may also be mentioned.

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