Ferde Grofé, (1892 – 1972) was an American pianist, arranger and composer.
Born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé on 27th March 1892 in New York City, of French Huguenot extraction, his family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera and his mother, Elsa Johanna von Grofé, was a professional cellist. She was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano. Read Full BioFerde Grofé, (1892 – 1972) was an American pianist, arranger and composer.
Born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé on 27th March 1892 in New York City, of French Huguenot extraction, his family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera and his mother, Elsa Johanna von Grofé, was a professional cellist. She was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano. Elsa's father, Bernardt Bierlich, was a cellist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York and Elsa's brother, Julius Bierlich, was first violinist and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Symphony.
Ferde's father died in 1899 and Elsa took Ferde abroad to study piano, viola and composition in Leipzig, Germany. Given such a musical background, it is perhaps understandable that Ferde became proficient over a remarkable range of instruments including piano (his favored instrument), violin, viola (he became a violist in the Los Angeles Symphony), baritone horn, alto horn, and cornet. This command of musical instruments and composition gave Ferde the foundation to later become first an arranger of other composers' music and then an orchestrator of his own compositions.
Grofé left home at the age of fourteen and variously worked as a milkman, truck driver, usher, newsboy, elevator operator, helper in a book bindery, iron factory worker, and as a piano player in a bar for two dollars a night and as an accompanist. He continued studying piano and violin. When he was fifteen he was performing with dance bands. He also played the alto horn in brass bands. He was seventeen when he wrote his first commissioned work
He died on 3rd April 1972.
Born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé on 27th March 1892 in New York City, of French Huguenot extraction, his family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera and his mother, Elsa Johanna von Grofé, was a professional cellist. She was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano. Read Full BioFerde Grofé, (1892 – 1972) was an American pianist, arranger and composer.
Born Ferdinand Rudolph von Grofé on 27th March 1892 in New York City, of French Huguenot extraction, his family had four generations of classical musicians. His father, Emil von Grofé, was a baritone who sang mainly light opera and his mother, Elsa Johanna von Grofé, was a professional cellist. She was also a versatile music teacher who taught Ferde to play the violin and piano. Elsa's father, Bernardt Bierlich, was a cellist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York and Elsa's brother, Julius Bierlich, was first violinist and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Symphony.
Ferde's father died in 1899 and Elsa took Ferde abroad to study piano, viola and composition in Leipzig, Germany. Given such a musical background, it is perhaps understandable that Ferde became proficient over a remarkable range of instruments including piano (his favored instrument), violin, viola (he became a violist in the Los Angeles Symphony), baritone horn, alto horn, and cornet. This command of musical instruments and composition gave Ferde the foundation to later become first an arranger of other composers' music and then an orchestrator of his own compositions.
Grofé left home at the age of fourteen and variously worked as a milkman, truck driver, usher, newsboy, elevator operator, helper in a book bindery, iron factory worker, and as a piano player in a bar for two dollars a night and as an accompanist. He continued studying piano and violin. When he was fifteen he was performing with dance bands. He also played the alto horn in brass bands. He was seventeen when he wrote his first commissioned work
He died on 3rd April 1972.
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On The Trail
Ferde Grofé Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'On The Trail' by these artists:
Anita O'Day (Hee-hop, hee-hop, mule) (Hop-hee-hop, hee-hop) The st…
Clyde Hurley And His Orchestra When it's twilight on the trail, And I jog along,…
Frankie Laine Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Sidney Torch and His Orchestra Every day, along about evening When the sunlight's beginning…
Sy Oliver and His Orchestra When it's twilight on the trail, And I jog along,…
The Glenn Miller Orchestra Angels come to paint the desert nightly When the moon…
The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below or by filtering for lyric videos.
CriticalListener
It's easy to see how Grofe was inspired to write the music, based on the rhythm of the mules' gait! You did an excellent job editing the music with the video footage. Thanks for posting!
Sandy Feet
My Mother and I did this ride over sixty years ago...looking at it today I think that we were crazy and I don't think I could do it again. Thank you for the music (which I love and the ride)!!!
puuxexil
Wonderful video. I remember a lot of those places along the Bright Angel Trail. Hearing all the musical cues used for Christmas Story is just gravy.
Len Gasparini
When I was a kid (about 4 or 5), every time I heard this on the radio I'd stop whatever I was doing and listen, enraptured.
His Mississippi Suite is wonderful too.
Shelley Swan
Heard this on public radio today and have been humming it ever since...reminds me of some dear friends of mine who have moved to Arizona.
Wendy Cooke
My mother used to play this on a 78 when I was young. It’s a great memory! Thank you mom❣️
David Crowell
Came for the tune - stayed for the presentation. OUTSTANDING !!!
Angelo Gaffo
My 3 year old daughter is obsessed with this video. Good thing is that she now knows this excellent music quite well
Roy Chefets
Could anyone possibly care??
Caroline Corman
Angelo Gaffo my mom played this for my brother and I.