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Galuppi, Baldassare
Born on the island of Burano, near Venice, October 18, 1706.
From that island he received the surname of Il Buranello. He composed many operas and other works popular in his time. Some of his sacred compositions are still given, but he is chiefly remembered through his sonata for the harpsichord included in Pauer's "Alte Klavier-musik". Galuppi has been called the father of Italian comic opera. He made several extended tours and held important positions, among them that of maestro to Catharine II of Russia (1765-68), through which he influenced musical development in the country.
He died in Venice, January 3, 1785.
Ganne, Louis
Born in Buxieres-les-Mines, France, April 5, 1862.
He was a pupil of Dubois and Franck at the Paris Conservatoire, and has written many widely known pieces for the pianoforte. "La Czarine", "La Tzigane", and "Rabelais" are the most popular of his compositions.
Gevaert, Francois
Gillet, Ernest
Born in Paris, September 13, 1856.
He studied composition and pianoforte at the Paris Conservatoire, and was solo 'cellist at the Grand Opera, later living in London. His compositions include many popular orchestral pieces, of which "Loin de Bal" is the best known. He has also composed chamber music and numerous pianoforte pieces.
Gluck, Alma
Gluck, Christoph Willibald
Born in Weidenway, Bavaria, July 2, 1714.
To this composer the opera owes not a little of its splendor and dramatic perfection. First following Italian models, through broader influences he developed into a reformer whose work will not be forgotten. At a Jesuit school in Komotau, Bohemia (1720-32) he learned singing, organ, violin, and 'cello. From there he went to Prague and thence, in 1736, to Vienna, where Prince Melzi became interested in him. This friend took him to Milan, where he studied under Sammartini, and after four years produced his first opera, "Artaserse" (1741), followed (1742-45) by eight others. In 1745 he went to London, and there he remained till 1748, when he settled in Vienna.
Gluck's most famous works are: "Orfeo ed Euridice" (1762); "Alceste" (1767); "Paride ed Elena" (1769); "Iphigenie en Aulide" (1774); "Armide" (1777); and "Iphigenie en Tauride" (1779). After the production of "Iphigenie en Aulide" a better controversy arose between Gluck and his followers on one side and the adherents of the old school of opera, led by Piccini, on the other. In this famous contest the "Gluckists" finally prevailed over the "Piccinists", to the lasting gain of musical art. Besides operas, Gluck left various interesting compositions.
He died in Vienna, November 15, 1787.
- Biographic Articles
Godard, Benjamin
Born in Paris, August 18, 1849.
He studied the violin with Hammer, and at nine played in public. Entering the Paris Conservatoire, he was taught by Viesuxtemps (violin) and Reber (composition). He published a violin sonata in 1865, and soon after received a prize from the Institute de France. He composed several operas, of which the most successful, "La Vivandiere" was produced at the Opera Comique, Paris, soon after his death; also concertos, suites, symphonies, songs, and pianoforte pieces.
He died in Cannes, January 11, 1895.
- Biographic Articles
Gottschalk, Louis Moreau
Born in New Orleans, La., May 8, 1829.
When twelve years old he went to Paris, where he studied under Halle and Maleden and acquired mastery of the pianoforte. Gottschalk then began to turn his musical ability to practical account. He toured Europe (1845-52) with remarkable success, and in 1853 returned to the United States, where he met with even greater triumphs, which were repeated in Cuba and South America. His compositions, of which he left a great variety, have in many instances originality and charm. Of his pianoforte pieces, numbering about ninety, a few favorites constitute his chief title to remembrance as a composer.
He died near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December 18, 1869.
Gounod, Charles Francois
Born in Paris, June 17, 1818.
After receiving an early musical education from his mother, an accomplished pianist, and taking a preparatory course at the Lycee St. Louis, in 1836 he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied under Reicha, Halevy, Lesueur, and Paer, winning the second Prix de Rome with the contata "Marie Stuart et Rizio". He later spent a number of years in Italy studying the earlier masters, especially Palestrina. His first important compositions were produced in 1841-43. Church music claimed his attention, but later the theater occupied him for many years.
Gounod at one time intended to become a priest, and while studying for this office he obtained a wide knowledge of books and men. The years 1845-50 he spent largely in studying Schumann and Berlioz. From 1852 to 1860 he was conductor of the Orpheon in Paris. After experiencing several failures in Paris, he produced his celebrated "Faust" (1859) at the Theatre Lyrique, and this opera at length placed him in the first rank of contemporary composers. His "La Reine de Saba" (1862) did not equal expectations. After this he produced several well received pieces, marked, however, more by lyric than by dramatic qualities. Among them are "Mireille" (1864) and "Romeo and Juliet" (1867), the latter being one of his greater operas. During the Franco-German War and for time afterward he lived in England, where his successful work gave a fresh impulse to musical enterprise. IN 1866 he was elected to the Institut de France.
Besides those already mentioned, Gounod's operas inlcude "Sappho" (1851), "Le Medecin Malgre Lui" (1858), "Philemon et Baucis" (1860), "Cinq-Mars" (1877), "Polyeucte" (1878), and others. His church music - the oratorios "La Redemption" (1882), "Mors et Vita" (1885), etc. - is marked by noble spiritual feeling and often attains to choral grandeur. As a song writer Gounod has taken high rank in critical estimation.
He died in St. Cloud, October 18, 1893.
- Biographic Articles
Gregh, Louis
Born in Philippeville, Algeria, March 15, 1843.
He is the author of various works, including the operetta "La Lycee des Jeunes Filles", a ballet entitled "Arlette", numerous popular songs, and over one hundred and fifty pianoforte pieces for two, four, and six hands.
Grieg, Edvard
Born in Bergen, Norway, June 15, 1843.
His mother was his first teacher, instructing him in the rudiments of music and in the principles of the pianoforet. He then went to the conservatory in Leipzig, where he studied under such noted masters as Richter, Hauptmann, Tierz, Reinecke, Wenzel, and Moscheles. Leaving Leipzig in 1862, he turned to Copenhagen, where his acquaintance with Gade, Emil Hartmann, and Rikard Nordraak, inspired him to trust to his own genius and the genius of the country, and to write "true Norse songs". In 1867 Grieg made his home in Christiania. Here he founded a musical society, which he conducted with great success, relinquishing it however in 1880. Grieg is the foremost Norwegian composer of recent years. His genius is close to that of the people, his work being saturated with the folk lore spirit, and with brilliant local coloring. For sustained composition, such as is necessitated by operas and orchestral pieces, Grieg has shown little capacity. The higher forms of chamber music are his especial forte, and through them he has earned both fame and influence.
He died in Bergen, September 4, 1907.
- Biographic Articles
Gretry, Andre Ernest Modeste
Born in Leige, Belgium, February 8, 1741.
Having studied for several years in Rome, he went to Paris, where he wrote "Le Huron" and about fifty other operas. His further compositions include sonatas and church music. His influence on the development of French comic opera was far reaching. Gretry's social and literary connections gave him an importance even beyond that due to his very successful career as a musician. At court he had many influential patrons, and distinguished appointments came to him. Napoleon made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and granted him a pension.
He died in Monmorency, near Paris, September 24, 1813.
Guilmant, Felix Alexandre
Born in Boulogne, France, March 12, 1837.
His father was an organist of the Church of St. Nicholas and from him the son received his first musical instruction. Later, he was taught by Gustave Carulli, and in 1860 by Lemmens. Before this time, however, and before he had completed his musical studies, he was appointed organist of the Church of St. Joseph, and maitre de chapelle of the St. Nicholas Church. Later, he was elected professor of solfege in the Ecole Connunale, director of the Boulogne Societe Orpheonique, and a member of the Societe Philharmonique. In 1871 he removed to Paris, and took the position of organist of the Church of La Trinite. His compositions includes masses for organ and orchestra, sonatas, symphonies, and motets. His reputation rest largely, however, upon his brilliant playing. He made several tours in England, Italy, Russia, and America, always with complete success.
Gurlitt, Cornelius
Born in Altona, Germany, February 10, 1820.
He was a professor in the conservatory at Hamburg. Among his publications were quartets, trios, sonatas for 'cello, for piano, and for violin, and several operas.
He died in Altona, June 17, 1901.
- Biographic Articles
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