A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Grell, Edouard

by J. A. Fuller-Maitland

GRELL, Edouard August, born Nov. 6, 1800, the son of the organist of the Parochialkirche in Berlin, received his musical education from his father, J. C. Kaufmann, Ritschl, and finally from Zelter, on whose recommendation he received the appointment of organist of the Nicolaikirche at the age of 16. In 1817 he entered the Singakademie, with which institution he was connected in one way or another for nearly sixty years. In 1832 he became its vice-director, under Rungenhagen, after whose death he was in 1853 appointed director, a post which he held until 1876. In 1841 he was made a member of the musical section of the Royal Academy of Arts, with which institution he was connected until 1881. In 1858 he received the title of professor, and in 1864 the order pour le mérite. He died Aug. 10, 1886. Although his scholastic functions absorbed so large a proportion of his time, he yet found opportunity for the composition of many works of large extent and of the most elaborate structure. He was one of the most learned contrapuntists of his day in Germany, and his works show him to have been not only an ingenious theorist, but a richly gifted artist. His opus magnum is a mass in 16 parts a capella, besides which he produced psalms in 8 and 11 parts, a Te Deum, motets, cantatas, an oratorio entitled 'Die Israëliten in der Wüste,' and many songs and duets.

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