South African composer Stefans Grové (1922-2014) received honorary doctorates from the Universities of the Free State and Pretoria and in 2008 he was given honorary membership of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. Grové was the first South African recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and taught at the world-renowned Peabody Conservatoire for fourteen years. He has lived in Pretoria since 1973, where he taught as professor in composition at the University of Pretoria until his retirement in 1987. The music now housed at DOMUS includes previously unknown youth works: an untitled orchestral piece written in his matric year (1941), a Fantasy for piano and string orchestra (1939) first performed by Dodds Miller as conductor and the Cape Town radio orchestra, a Ballet suite for two pianos (1944), his first string quartet written under the guidance of W.H. Bell in Cape Town (1945) and a Sonatina for clarinet and piano (1946). Apart from works from Grové’s neo-classical period (including the autograph of his 1955 Flute Sonata recorded by Jean-Pierre Rampal), and his much discussed African style that was already inaugurated with the ballet Waratha (1976), this donation also contains unusual finds. One of these is the stylistic imitations (1967-1995) performed by Grové to great acclaim in America and inspired by Rosemary Brown’s ‘Beyond the Fringe’ recording of 1966. This music, like the imitation piece Cantata Profana (of which the text was reportedly written during a beer drinking session), opens new perspectives on the legendary humour and wit that distinguishes Grové’s music from those of his more melancholic, neo-romantic South African peers. The Grové collection consists of articles, correspondence, music manuscripts, notes and printed music.

Recent Submissions

  • Darnach fuhr Jesus weg 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Das Evangelium für den 4. Sonntag in den Fasten (Lätare) Joh. 6:1-15". Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Wohl denen die da wandeln 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. [Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria]. Fragment.
  • Wahrlich, ich sage euch 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria.
  • O Lamm Gottes unschuldig 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria.
  • Gesang 666 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. Lob Gott getrost mit Singen, frohlock du Christlich Schar. [Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria].
  • Ein feste Burg 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. [Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria].
  • Christe du Lamm Gottes 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria.
  • Lied van Transvaal 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Vir die Taalfees in die Paarl".
  • Kaapse draaie 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. 1. Kitaarspeler -- 2. Rooioog -- 3. Suidoos. Commissioned by the Transvaal Youth Choir (TRAMUS).
  • Missionsfest 1982 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922-2014
    Score. 1. Der Kümmerer -- 2. Apostelgeschichte 8:26-28. Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Kantate : siehe, wir haben alles verlassen 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Sonntag: Septuagesimae". Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Psalm 150 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Für Doppelchor und Bläser". Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Geburt aus dem Wasser und Geist 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Trinitatis 1982". Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Es war ein Königischer 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Das Evangelium für den 21. Sonntag nach Trinitatis (Joh. 4:47-54)". Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Er sprach aber auch 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Das Evangelium für den 9. Sonntag n. Trinitatis (Luk 16:1-2) mit anschliessendem Lobspruch". Written for the Lutheran Services in Pretoria. Folder inscription: "Kirchen Musik 1979-1983".
  • Psalm 23 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. "Worte: Gesang 327".
  • Omnis caterva fidelium 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. For three-part children's choir with piano accompaniment. Commissioned by the Roodepoort International Eisteddfod.
  • Nonyana 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. 'Music from Africa' series no. 12. "J.J. 29:vii:94".
  • Herderslied 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Score. Oboe and piano. Composed for UNISA examination syllabus.
  • Die bose kabouter 

    Grove, Stefans, 1922
    Clarinet part. Composed for UNISA examination syllabus.

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