Ferde grofe composer biography for children

Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé, known as Ferde Grofé (March 27, 1892 – April 3, 1972) (pronounced ) was an American composer, arranger, pianist and instrumentalist.

He is best known for his 1931 five-movement tone poem, Grand Canyon Suite, and for having orchestrated George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue prior to its 1924 premiere.

During the 1920s and 1930s, he went by the name Ferdie Grofé.

Early life

Grofé was born in New York City in 1892 to German immigrants.

He came by his extensive musical interests naturally.

Ferde grofe composer biography for children pictures

His family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera; his mother, Elsa Johanna Bierlich von Grofé, a professional cellist, was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano.

Elsa's father, Bernardt Bierlich, was a cellist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York and Elsa's brother, Julius Bierlich, was first violinist and c