Eric Gross


Eric Gross AM was an Austrian-Australian pianist, composer and teacher.

Biography

Gross was born in Vienna and emigrated to England in 1938. From the age of fourteen, he worked as a pianist in bands and orchestras. He studied at Trinity College of Music, with Wilfrid Dunwell, and the University of Aberdeen, with Reginald Barrett-Ayres, and where he received an MA in 1957. Following professional engagements in Ceylon and New Caledonia, he settled in Sydney in 1958.
Initially teaching at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, he joined the staff of the department of music at the University of Sydney in 1960 and remained there until retiring in 1991 as associate professor of music. In 1989 he was visiting professor at the University of Guyana. He was president of the Fellowship of Australian Composers, and from 1981 to 1984 he was also treasurer and executive board member of the Asian Composers' League. Apart from teaching, Gross was active as composer, arranger and conductor. He received numerous commissions for film scores for Film Australia and TV scores for Screen Gems Columbia, as well as numerous commissions from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1976 he received the Albert H. Maggs Composition Award from Melbourne University.
While working as a conductor of the Pro Musica Society of Sydney University and the St. Andrew's Cathedral Choral Society, Gross wrote numerous works for the orchestras and choirs associated with these societies. Political statements were made in the orchestral work Na Shledanou v Praze which used the Czech national anthem as its main theme. In other works, such as the cantata Pacem in Terris, Gross used pertinent philosophical or political texts. He is also well known for Dussekiana I-III, three suites for violin and orchestra, based on piano works by František Xaver Dušek.
In addition to a predilection for jazz idioms, Gross's worldwide travels and cultural experiences tended to give his music a cosmopolitan flavour, with traces of Austrian, Scottish, Asian and South American influences emerging from time to time. He also enjoyed experimentation, especially when a sympathetic virtuoso or ensemble such as bass-baritone Alan Light, trombonist Greg van der Struik or Adrian Hooper's Sydney Mandolins, was available.
Gross was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1998. On Australia Day 2006 he was declared to be the City of Canada Bay Cultural and Artistic Citizen of the Year. He remained active as a composer and examiner until shortly before his death on 17 April 2011. His wife Pamela died less than a week before he did.

Selected works

;OperaAmorous Judge, Opera in one act, Op. 51
;OrchestralConcert Overture, Op. 1 Sinfonietta, Op. 9 Antubconseas, Op. 11 Fanfopus, Op. 13 Moonscape for string orchestra, Op. 32 Of Strings and Things, Op. 53 Overture "Cymbeline", Op. 90 Na shledanou v Praze, Op. 94
  • Concertino for orchestra, Op. 108 Trilogy, Op. 112
  • Symphony No. 2, Op. 123 Fanfare Scholastic, Op. 129 Golden Jubilee Fantasy, Op. 158 Songs of Australia for string orchestra Little Challenge for string orchestra, Op. 254 Cherries in the Brook, Op. 291
;BandBrassophony for brass band, Op. 146 Concertino for brass band Fanfare for George for brass band, Op. 157 Anniversary fantasy for concert band, Op. 199 Anniversary fantasy revisited for concert band, Op. 199a Penshurst on parade for concert band, Op. 217 March ceremonial: Order of Australia for brass band
; ConcertanteDussekiana I for violin and orchestra Dussekiana II for violin and orchestra, Op. 56 Dussekiana III for violin and orchestra, Op. 58
  • Concerto for piano and orchestra, Op. 135
  • Concerto No. 2 for mandolin and orchestra
  • Concerto for oboe and string or chamber orchestra, Op. 152
;Chamber music
  • Trio for flute, oboe and clarinet, Op. 10 Merry Peasant Band for wind quintet, Op. 30 Three Bagatelles for flute solo, Op. 37 Eugel and Marmaduke, Duet for 2 cellos, Op. 62 Three Bagatelles for saxophone solo, Op. 96 Silas Pilgrim Trio for flute, clarinet and bassoon, Op. 97 Plymouth for string quartet, Op. 98 Drummoyne for string quartet, Op. 99 Six Miniatures for trumpet, trombone and tuba, Op. 103 Three Sketches for trumpet and piano, Op. 121 Study No. 1 for Misha for violin and piano, Op. 130 Cadenza I for mandolin solo, Op. 153, No. 1 Cadenza II for mandolin solo, Op. 153, No. 2 Cadenza III for mandolin solo, Op. 153, No. 3 Saxophone Quartet No. 1, Op. 155 Mandigar I for 2 mandolins, mandola and guitar, Op. 156 Paul and Adrian, Duet for 2 mandolins, Op. 165 Tres Piezas para Teresa for guitar solo, Op. 166 Two Pieces for violin and organ, Op. 167 Barbara and Deborah, Duet for 2 mandolins, Op. 175 Romance for mandolin and organ, Op. 177
  • Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 183 Cadenza IV for mandolin solo, Op. 185, No. 2 Cadenza V for mandolin solo, Op. 185, No. 3 Triptych for violin solo Mandigar II for 2 mandolins, mandola and guitar, Op. 190 Bagatelle for trombone and piano, Op. 196 Four Movements for horn, trumpet, flugelhorn and 2 trombones, Op. 201 Three Simple Pieces for trumpet and piano, Op. 205 Fantasia for trumpet and piano, Op. 213 Invention No. 1 for viola and piano, Op. 216, No. 1a Five Dialogues for 2 flutes, Op. 219 Concerto da camera for mandolin, violin, viola, cello, Op. 220 Cadenza VI for mandolin solo, Op. 220a Suite for trombone quartet, Op. 221 Sequence of Happiness for mandolin and piano, Op. 222 Frantaphonics for saxophone solo, Op. 228 Euphonism I B for viola and piano, Op. 230 Cadenza VII for mandolin solo, Op. 231 Cadenza VIII for mandolin solo, Op. 239 For a Gentle Soul for 2 mandolins, mandola, guitar and double bass, Op. 248
  • Sonata for mandolin and piano, Op. 251 Concert fantasia, for button accordion and string quartet, op. 252 Three Inventions for saxophone solo, Op. 253 Cadenza X for mandolin solo, Op. 255 Euphonics for cello and piano, Op. 256 Euphonics II for bassoon and piano, Op. 258 Euphonics III for bass clarinet and piano, Op. 259 Altophonics for clarinet and piano, Op. 260 Romance Bitonal for violin and piano, Op. 263 Violamorosa for viola and piano, Op. 268 Cadenza XI for trombone solo, Op. 272 Cadenza XII for trombone solo, Op. 272b Two Cellos Go Meandering, Duet for 2 cellos, Op. 284 Discussion for flute and viola, Op. 296 Trialogue for mezzo-soprano, flute and viola, Op. 296a Cadenza 10.5 for mandolin solo, Op. 299 Suite Latin American for saxophone quartet, Op. 302
;HarpsichordToccata "Not at Three", Op. 226
;OrganWedding March, Op. 61 Two Pieces, Op. 42 Processional Organ Prelude on "The Shepherd of Bethlehem", Op. 95 Bridal March, Op. 104 Recessional, Op. 126 Centormedique, Op. 136 Postlude for Carol and Paul, Op. 218 Meditation on a Blessed Spirit, Op. 235 Sydney Sojourn, Op. 246 Music of the Heart, Op. 271 Grace of Our Lord, Op. 276 Mary Immaculate, Op. 277 Hymn to the Virgin Mary, Op. 278 In the Stillness of the Evening, Op. 280 O God beyond All Time and Space, Op. 285
;PianoMoon Interlude Little Jazzeroo Klavierstucke I, Op. 120 Klavierstucke II, Op. 127 Thanksgiving, Op. 149 Klavierstucke III, Op. 150 Five Simple Pieces, Op. 169
  • * No. 4 Sydney Harbour Blues Sonata piccola, Op. 188 Miniature for Ray, Op. 195 Glebe Island Minuet, Op. 204 Pensive Prelude, Op. 208 Nostalgic Interlude, Op. 209 Klavierstück IV, Op. 225 Klavierstück V, Op. 243 Idyll for Idil, Op. 244 Jeanelligans, Op. 247 Sally in the Mallee, Op. 250 Sallymede, Op. 262 Sally in a Maze, Op. 290 Golden Swan, Op. 292 Marita's Farewell, Op. 294 Three Fancies, Op. 298 Playful Sally, Op. 300 What Is Time, Op. 301
;VocalTwo Songs for soprano and piano, Op. 45 Five Burns Settings for bass and piano, Op. 49 Three Songs for soprano, clarinet and piano, Op. 139Sweet Silence after Bells for mezzo-soprano and piano, Op. 206 The Maid's Lament for mezzo-soprano, flute, viola and harp, Op. 293 Donne Trilogy for tenor and piano, Op. 281