Strube, Gustav (1867-1953) Symphony in B minor (1910)

[Reverie]

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

[Alan Howe]

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)

[Alan Howe]

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?

[eschiss1]

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.

[John Boyer]

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?

[Gareth Vaughan]

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

[Mark Thomas]

So one assumes that the B minor Symphony is Strube's Second and the C minor, played in Boston in 1896, is his First.

[eschiss1]

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.

[eschiss1]

Apparently Strube's papers are at Johns Hopkins. He was on the Peabody faculty 1916-46 so maybe no surprise.

[eschiss1]

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.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Useful to know about the Johns Hopkins/Peabody collection, Eric. Thank you.

[Alan Howe]

Anyone else listened to the Symphony?

[Mark Thomas]

Not yet, I'm afraid - I've been away from home.

[John Boyer]

So 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. 

[eschiss1]

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...)