When I was first approached by classical composer Rene Gruss, I told him I didn’t know anything about classical music and that I would pass him to a writer who did. He insisted it should be me, a person who is untrained in classical music, to write about him as that is his target audience. It is Gruss’ mission to bring classical music to a new generation of fans, but not classical as we know it. Gruss calls his brand of classic cool music.
Gruss considers himself something of a maverick on the Internet, composing music in the classic way and not in the modern classic idiom. He is attracting what may seem an unusual fan-base made up of all kinds of people but heavily populated by metal-heads. His blend of classic orchestral music and world music is beautiful, harmonic, and rich. It is recorded with a real orchestra (no synthesisers here), recorded in the Czech Republic, and something of a homecoming for this New Zealand native (now living in England).
His father is a Czech native from Bohemia and his mother is a Greek Opera singer who encouraged her son to love music. At a young age Gruss was a virtuoso on both the piano and violin when he was discovered by renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin.
Menuhin secured Gruss a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to study violin. While there, Gruss discovered the beauty and joy of composing and eventually left London, returning home to New Zealand to study music composition at Wellington's Victoria University. Now, after many frustrating years dealing with antiquated people and stagnated by outmoded, elitist ideas he has decided to go his own route.
He composed his own symphony and paid to have it played by an orchestra in Prague, conducting it himself, editing it himself, and eventually publishing it himself. The resulting debut album, Bellatrix, is available. The stunning soundscapes and power of emotion on Bellatrix is overwhelming. It’s this power and ethereal beauty that is garnering Gruss so many fans. Amongst his fans he can count many high profile musical artists including Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I think this guy is just alittle bit high on himself.
"..like the metal market. A lot of these people have never been to a mainstream classical concert."[struck a nerve]
uh, hello..How about Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Concerto Suite LIVE With the New Japan Philharmonic. Whereas Mr. Malmsteen composed all the music himself to include electric guitar in classical composition.
Apocalyptica covered Metallica's songs in the classical vein.
Back in the 80's the christian thrash band Believer tried there hand at classical with the only thrash song to include a female opera singer & strings.
As for "Modern" stylings, Will Ackerman,George Winston,Ken Bonfield,etc.. have come pretty close to creating a classical atmosphere. Ken Bonfield classifies his material as Baroque.
Honestly, I like Mr. Gruss's work but he isn't a pioneer as he wants people to believe.
2 - Brandon
You're pointing out all these obscure points in time where metal overlapped classical music that most people that listen to metal have never been too. He's talking about a real classical concert, where the whooole thing is classical music, not just some covers. He's not being high on himself, you're just being sensitive to something he's not even saying. Just sit there on your computer and feel salty.