Clare Grundman

Biography

He was born in Cleveland and graduated from Shaw High School in East Cleveland in 1930. He then attended The Ohio State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in Music Education in 1934. For a few years he taught instrumental music in Ohio and Kentucky public schools, but returned to Ohio State in 1937, where he taught orchestration, applied lessons in woodwind instruments, and conducted the band. He received his MA degree in 1940.

After finishing his degree he moved to New York. He then studied composition with Paul Hindemith at the Berkshire Music Center, and served as a military musician in the United States Coast Guard from 1942 to 1945.

Among his many awards were an Honorary Membership in the Women Band Directors International (1974), the AWAPA award of the National Band Association (1982), the American Bandmasters Association’s Edwin Franko Goldman Memorial Citation (1983), the Sudler Order of Merit of the John Philip Sousa Foundation (1990), and the American School Band Directors Association’s Goldman Award (1992).

In addition to his musical accomplishments he co-authored the 1974 New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary.

Grundman was gay and in a long-term relationship. After his death in 1996, Grundman's partner survived him for another sixteen years. His papers and manuscripts are located in the Music and Dance Library at Ohio State.

Music

Grundman composed scores for films, radio, and television, as well as orchestrations for Broadway musicals. He also wrote a few works for various chamber ensembles and for full orchestra. However, he is best known for his many compositions and arrangements for symphonic band.

Many of his band pieces are rhapsodies or fantasies on folk tunes from various countries. They are often played by American high school bands, especially An Irish Rhapsody, but he also used melodies from England, Finland, Japan, Norway, and Scotland.

His primary publisher is Boosey & Hawkes.

Writings

Musical works

Chamber music

Works for concert or symphonic band

1. The Peat-Fire Flame
2. An Eriskay Love Lilt
3. Milking Song (Hebridean Game Song)
4. The Road to the Isles

1. The Leather Bottle
2. Roving
3. We Met
4. The Vicar of Bray

Arrangements for band

Orchestrations for musicals