Open Directory - Arts:Music:Composition:Composers:G:Grofé, Ferdinand Rudolph von


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Top: Arts: Music: Composition: Composers: G: Grofé,_Ferdinand_Rudolph_von

Please submit sites dealing with the life or music of Ferde Grofé, including biographies, discographies, analyses of compositions, or bibliographies.

American Modern composer Ferde Grofé (1892-1972) was born to a baritone and actor father and a cellist and music teaching mother. After many non-musical jobs, he was only 17 when he wrote his first commissioned work. He played violin for the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra and jazz piano with the Paul Whiteman orchestra. His music is usually considered light classical, and has a strong jazz influence. Along with Grand Canyon Suite, his most known works include Mississippi Suite and the orchestration of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.