Strube was a German-born conductor and composer.
Strube was born in the Harz Mountains of Ballenstadt in 1867 and came from a musically gifted family. His earlymusical education was at the Leipzig Conservatory where he studied violin with Brodsky, composition with Jadassohn and Reinicke and piano with Reckendorf.
In 1891 he emigrated to America. He was the founding conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1916, and taught at the Peabody Conservatory.
His output, although not huge is varied ranging from full scale orchestral works such as this symphony to a good handful of chamber compositions.
(Maybe a kind soul could come up with a work list?)
The symphony in B minor (1910) is in four movs:
Andante - Allegro comodo
Adagio, ma non troppo
Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Finale: Allegro energico
It runs in total for about 36 mins.
SYMPHONY in B minor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooaW-vD5Woo
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Strube
Opera
Ramona (1916)
The Captive (1938)
Orchestra
Lorelei (symphonic poem)
Narcissus and Echo (Malfilâtre) (symphonic poem)
A Peace Overture (1945)
Puck (1910, comedy overture)
Sinfonietta (little symphony)
Symphonic Prologue
Symphony in B minor (1910)
Eine Walpurgisnacht (symphonic poem)
Gethsemane (symbolic rhapsody; lyrics by Helen A. Clarke)
Concertante
Longing for viola and orchestra (1905); after the poem by William Lyman Johnson; dedicated to and premiered by Émile Férir with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Fantastic Dance for viola and orchestra (1906); dedicated to and premiered by Émile Férir with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Concerto in F♯ minor for violin and orchestra (1907)
Concerto in B minor for violin and orchestra (1927)
Concerto for violin and orchestra (1943)
Élégie for cello and orchestra (1907)
Romance in B♭ major for violin and orchestra (1903)
Chamber music
Berceuse for viola and piano (1908)
Elegy and Serenade for string quartet (with double bass ad libitum) or string orchestra, Op.9 (1902)
Concertino in D major for violin and piano (1909)
Legato, Tempo di Valse for piano (1902)
Mirages, 6 Pieces for violin and piano (1914)
Rêverie in A minor for violin and piano (1906)
Sonata in E minor for violin and piano (1924)
Sonata in D minor for viola and piano (1925)
Sonatina for viola and Piano (1943)
Ein Tanz (A Dance) in D minor for violin and piano (1906)
Trio for violin, cello and piano (1928)
Two Pictures for violin and piano (1924)
Vier kleine Stimmungsbilder (Four Little Mood-Pictures) for violin and piano (1908): Abendglocken (Sunset Chimes); Mondscheinzauber (Magic Moonlight); Ein Märchen (A Fairy Tale); Morgen (Morning)
The Symphony is definitely not what I was expecting - the first movement features some rather whimsical passages alternating with much heavier, wilder tutti and others of a more lyrical character. At the moment I couldn't say who it reminds me of; what I can say is that there is brilliant use of the orchestra on offer here - well done, Martin, for such a superb rendition!
The further I listen, though, what comes through is a brilliant succession of orchestral effects, but I'm not yet sure whether it all amounts to a symphony. If I'd been listening 'blind', I might have thought this was an orchestral suite, but this is just an initial impression.
Fascinating, though. Rather 'American', perhaps?
Thanks! Had actually heard of this work but not heard it yet nor expected to, so this is appreciated. Btw the score to the elegie and complete parts to the elegie and serenade op.9 are up at IMSLP, I see, as are a few other works of his...
Also, Gethsemane is, as one might guess, a "symbolic rhapsody" not for orchestra but for mixed chorus and orchestra.
His works were frequently performed by the Boston Symphony in the years before the First World War:
Puck Overture - 1910
Four Preludes - 1920
Maid of Orleans Overture - 1895
Symphony in B minor - 1909, 1912
Symphony in C minor - 1896
Die Loreley - 1913
Narcissus and Echo - 1913
Rhapsody, Op. 17 - 1901
Variations on an Original Theme - 1915
Violin Concerto in F-sharp minor - 1905, 1906
Violin Concerto in G - 1897
Cello Concerto in E minor - 1909
Fantastic Dance - 1908, 1912, 1918
Longing - 1905, 1906
So, he was quite the hit in Boston, even if most works were given only in one season. Still, several were done twice, and one even three times. Surely there must be merit here?
The following scores and parts are in Fleisher:
Lorelei (symphonic poem)
Narcissus and Echo (Malfilâtre) (symphonic poem)
A Peace Overture (1945)
Puck (1910, comedy overture)
Sinfonietta (little symphony) [listed in Fleisher as "Little Symphony"]
Symphonic Prologue
Symphony in B minor (1910) + another Symphony (no key given)
Eine Walpurgisnacht (symphonic poem)
Violin Concerto (in A minor) (pub. 1943)
Berceuse, for string orchestra
Sonatina for viola & piano
+ some arrangements of Ethelbert Nevin and Adolphe Adam
So one assumes that the B minor Symphony is Strube's Second and the C minor, played in Boston in 1896, is his First.
In order of known first performance, and I don't feel like I'm even being especially picky here given the number of examples where that doesn't match up with other numberings...
Does the Baltimore Symphony's archive have anything? He founded that one.
Apparently Strube's papers are at Johns Hopkins. He was on the Peabody faculty 1916-46 so maybe no surprise.
Moreover, the Peabody library catalog has 2 dozen or so things by Strube some of which could be added to the list above including a symphony (1921-22, premiered 1925 in DC) in ms, called "Lanier" in honor of the poet; a symphonic poem Der Harz; a violin/piano version of the B minor concerto and full score of the F# minor; Hymn to Eros; piano trio (1928); violin concertino in D...ah, we already have some of those listed, here's a place to find some of them besides Fleisher, though also requiring permission.
Useful to know about the Johns Hopkins/Peabody collection, Eric. Thank you.
Anyone else listened to the Symphony?
Not yet, I'm afraid - I've been away from home.
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Thursday 23 February 2023, 16:25So one assumes that the B minor Symphony is Strube's Second and the C minor, played in Boston in 1896, is his First.
The C minor symphony is listed as Op. 11 in DeWolfe Howe's history of the BSO, with the first performance given as April 02, 1896.
Any sign of score or parts or even reduction of the C minor? In any case that's 2 of at least 3 of his symphonies whose location we know (the "Lanier" of 1922-3/25 at Peabody, the B minor at Sibley reuploaded to IMSLP)...
BTW: LOC's catalog lists a woodwind and horn quintet and a cello sonata (1930, 1925 - either publication or composition.) ("From old catalog" but possibly still in stacks...)
Descriptive program notes to a January 1912 (https://cdm15982.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/PROG/id/110112) performance of the B minor symphony by the BSO. (Worldcat searches reveal BSO program notes to other works by Strube and others from concerts from that period. Interesting, I think.)
Quote from: eschiss1 on Friday 24 February 2023, 03:02Any sign of score or parts or even reduction of the C minor?
Not that I know of. But I can say that the work is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, and strings. The first movement begins with a slow introduction, Grave e molto moderato in C minor (3-4 time), which opens with some strong chords in the brass, interspersed with syncopated high C.'s in the wood-wind and trumpets, and triplet calls in the horns and first trombone.
You can download a PDF of the program notes, along with notes for performances of the Raff 5th Symphony (April 10, 1896) and Rubinstein 4th (March 20, 1896) here: BSO Notes 1895-1896 (https://archive.org/details/bostonsymphonysu189596bos)
The MARC record at Fleisher shows that the work they hold described as "Symphony" (no key given) is the Lanier symphony. So no luck with the C minor there, I'm afraid.
I should check to see, btw, if Sibley would be willing to digitize some of the Strube scores they haven't yet- they have (to stick with works published before 1928) his violin sonata in E minor, violin concerto in B minor (reduced), viola sonata, 4 Little Mood Pictures (in digitizing process), and other works.
I'm really not sure what to make of this symphony. First, maybe superficial, impressions are positive: it's a fantastic piece of orchestration (great work, Martin, in making that so clear), the thematic material is mostly memorable, it's often quite an exciting listen and on this showing Strube was taking on board the contemporary musical aesthetic (particularly in the slow movement and the finale). On reflection, though, I'm left with an impression of incoherence and lack of rigour, as if Strube has too many ideas, not too few. His themes are easily retained in the moment but also rather trite, so I suspect they'll not be remembered for long. The big outer movements are undisciplined and have a great, arguably way too much, variety of mood and character, so one enjoys the moment but loses whatever musical thread there is. The best movement is the slow, second one because in it Strube reins in the waywardness he's prey to in the three faster ones and maintains a mood and thematic consistency throughout. All in all attractive, but some way from being great, music.
A decent summary Mark (and Alan too for your views) I'd also like to add that maybe some of the themes are over simple, a few notes wavering within a range of minor third for example.
Till Eulenspiegel meets Charles Ives, perhaps? With Havergal Brian somewhere in the mix?