Bruno Klein
Encyclopedia
Bruno Oscar Klein was an American
composer
and organist
of German
origin. He wrote a number of works for orchestra
, some chamber music
, church music
, and a large number of song
s.
, Klein began his musical training in piano and composition with his father who made a living as an organist. He then studied at the Munich Conservatory
(MC) from 1875-1878 where he was a pupil of Carl Baermann, Josef Rheinberger
, and Franz Wüllner
.
After graduating from the MC, Klein came to the United States in 1878 at the age of 20, He settled in New York City
where he became involved with managing the German Theatre on Madison Ave during the early 1880s. He served as the head of the piano department at the Convent of the Sacred Heart
from 1884 until his death 27 years later. In 1894-1895 he returned to Germany to perform as a concert soloist. His opera Kenilworth premiered in Hamburg in 1895. He was also the organist at the Church of Saint Francis Xavier for ten years and taught on the faculty at the National Conservatory of Music of America
. He also taught music out of a private studio. Among his pupils was composer and organist Paul Ambrose
.
Klein died in 1911 at his home on Madison Ave in Manhattan. He was 53 years old. His son, also Bruno Oscar Klein, was a violin
ist by profession.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and organist
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...
of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
origin. He wrote a number of works for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, some chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, church music
Church music
Church music may be defined as music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclestiacal liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. This article covers music in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. For sacred music outside this...
, and a large number of song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s.
Life and career
Born in OsnabrückOsnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
, Klein began his musical training in piano and composition with his father who made a living as an organist. He then studied at the Munich Conservatory
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
The Hochschule für Musik und Theater München is one of the most respected traditional vocational universities in Germany specialising in music and the performing arts. The seat of the Hochschule is the former Führerbau of the NSDAP, located at Arcisstraße 12, on the eastern side of the Königsplatz...
(MC) from 1875-1878 where he was a pupil of Carl Baermann, Josef Rheinberger
Josef Rheinberger
Josef Gabriel Rheinberger was a German organist and composer, born in Liechtenstein.-Short biography:...
, and Franz Wüllner
Franz Wüllner
Franz Wüllner was a German composer and conductor. He led the premieres of Richard Wagner's operas Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, but was much criticized by Wagner himself, who greatly preferred the more celebrated conductors Hans von Bülow and Hermann Levi.Wüllner was born in Münster and studied...
.
After graduating from the MC, Klein came to the United States in 1878 at the age of 20, He settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he became involved with managing the German Theatre on Madison Ave during the early 1880s. He served as the head of the piano department at the Convent of the Sacred Heart
Convent of the Sacred Heart (New York)
The Convent of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic all-girl school in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Teaching grades from pre-kindergarten through twelve, it is located on Manhattan's Upper East Side at East 91st Street and Fifth Avenue....
from 1884 until his death 27 years later. In 1894-1895 he returned to Germany to perform as a concert soloist. His opera Kenilworth premiered in Hamburg in 1895. He was also the organist at the Church of Saint Francis Xavier for ten years and taught on the faculty at the National Conservatory of Music of America
National Conservatory of Music of America
The National Conservatory of Music of America was an institution for higher education in music founded in 1885 in New York City by Jeannette Meyers Thurber...
. He also taught music out of a private studio. Among his pupils was composer and organist Paul Ambrose
Paul Ambrose
Paul Ambrose was a Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator who was primarily active in the United States. His compositional output includes more than 200 songs, choral pieces, and works for solo piano and organ. He is particularly remembered for his anthems which have been...
.
Klein died in 1911 at his home on Madison Ave in Manhattan. He was 53 years old. His son, also Bruno Oscar Klein, was a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist by profession.