Grofe, Ferde, << groh FAY, FUR dee >> (1892-1972), was an American composer and arranger. Most of his compositions are orchestral works that portray the natural beauty of the United States or scenes from American life. Grofe’s best-known work is The Grand Canyon Suite (1931), especially the third section, “On the Trail.” Grofe’s other compositions include The Hudson River Suite (1956), Niagara Falls Suite (1960), and World’s Fair Suite (1963). In some works, Grofe experimented with nonmusical sounds to create added realism. For example, Symphony in Steel (1934) includes the sounds of a locomotive bell and a pneumatic drill.
Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofe was born in New York City on March 27, 1892. From 1917 to 1933, he was the chief arranger for Paul Whiteman’s band. Grofe arranged George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (1924), which Whiteman had commissioned for the band. Grofe’s arrangement contributed greatly to the success of the work. Grofe arranged music to fit the talents of various musicians in the Whiteman band. These performers included such jazz musicians as the cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and the saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer. Grofe died on April 3, 1972.
