Welcome to
GERHARD GRUBER
Composer for Film, Silent Movies and Theatre music
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Gerhard Gruber is an Austrian composer and piano player. As accompanist for silent movies he has become the leading authority in Austria since 1988.
He has performed for more than 400 different films (Viennale 1999-2004, Tokyo 2006/ 2007/ 2008, Hobart/ Australia, Rotorua/ New Zealand 2008, Padova, Motovun Film Festival, Cineconcerts Bordeaux 2005, Filmfestival Pisek/CZ, Munich, Hamburg, Diagonale).
Since 1983 Gerhard Gruber is working and performing as a composer and musician for theatre.
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» for contact, please, click here
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Music for silent movies
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GERHARD GRUBER works as an accompanist for silent movies on piano since 1988. In numerous performances he has played for about 400 different films of all genres (see list below).
As a basic principle he appreciates improvisation for his work, which he regards as best way of a direct and always new dialogue between the events on the screen, the music and the audience.
So no performance resembles the others. Gerhard Gruber likes it to be enticed by the films again and again and to pass on these feelings to the audience.
Cit.: ´For me the feeling of being amidst the events of a film story has been undescribable exciting from the first moment and is unchanged until today. This guarantees the liveliness and vibrancy of each performance.
It is always the unity of film, music and audience. And thus each presentation is able to be a special experience.`
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Silence! - Silent Film Festival in Rotorua/ New Zealand
17.-19.April 2008
Silence! - Silent Film Festival - initiated by Moata McNamara Mitai and Gerhard Gruber, supported by Austrian Embassy Canberra, Rotorua Council, Filmarchiv Austria and Land Oberoesterreich.
Many thanks to Moata, Mina, Fishlady Peata, Jill, Janet, Mark, Rev. Tom, Charly and all Maori friends
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Carving by Mina Mitai
REPORT ON SILENCE!
FESTIVAL OF SILENT FILM
ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND APRIL 2008
The festival, extending over three days 17th-19th April, opened with a Whakatau, a Maori greeting and blessing for the festival, for our distinguished guest pianist Gerhard Gruber, and for extending our knowledge and relationship with Gerhard’s country of origin, Austria. Audiences were immediately impressed by Mr.Gruber’s virtuosity on the piano, knowledge of the genre and by the quality of the Austrian films shown.
While the highlight of the festival was the films and accompaniment, we also enjoyed the depth of discussion around Austrian silent films and filmmakers and the subjects of the films shown.
Local readers translating for the audiences accompanied films with German subtitles, and a local guitarist accompanied one film. Gerhard Gruber also gave a workshop, encouraging other performers and musicians to become involved in working with silent film.
The final showing, of the Michael Curtiz film Sodom and Gomorrha, was introduced by an account of the biblical story by a local Anglican minister. The performance concluded with a response by a Professor from Auckland University of Technology. This opening of discussion around the films proved very interesting and we hope to extend this to other films in the future.
Rotorua has been extraordinarily fortunate to have the privilege of hosting Gerhard Gruber, witnessing his gifts and sharing a delight in the wonderful films from Austria. We would like to thank again the Austrian Embassy in Canberra for giving us the opportunity to hear this amazing pianist, and to let you know that you have an extraordinary ambassador in Gerhard Gruber.
I am already entering into discussions to see how we may be able to have Mr.Gruber play again next year, with perhaps the inclusion of some New Zealand films in the programme. The response from the community here has been astonishing, with several venues wanting to host his next visit and schools interested in having their students attend performances.
My husband and I join others in Rotorua in looking forward to further strengthening our relationship with our remarkable new friend.
Moata McNamara Mitai-Ngatai
13/05/2008
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Silent Film Festival State Cinema Hobart/ Australia
4.-12.April 2008
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Famous international and Austrian silent movies at Tasmania´s eldest cinema, The State Cinema, supported by the Austrian Embassy in Canberra, Land Oberoesterreich, Filmarchiv Austria and Geoff Long, Hobart.
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HonConsul Eva Meidl, John Kelly/ State Cinema and Gerhard Gruber
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ALEXANDER HORWATH, director of the Austrian Filmmuseum, about Gerhard Grubers music for silent movies:
... Music for silent movies needs a genuine musical partner of the film. The Austrian composer and (improvisation) musician Gerhard Gruber is one of very much, very few representatives of the profession, who meets this only apparently modest, actually however highest requirement. He is the partner par excellence.
The particular situation of silent film music, in which one part is ‘dead’ (which means old and stored on celluloid) and the other part ‘living’ (alive and capable of acting), paradoxically demands a musician who is not satisfied with this situation (with his or her own ‘advantage’), who wants to make the ‘dead’ part just as much alive as he or she is.
Grubers form of modesty is likewise his greatness; because it needs size to subordinate oneself as creative and idea-rich musician to an “uncommon text”.
Silent movie music in the sense Grubers is neither an exaggeration of the film, nor the “digestible making” of an “old-fashionable” artifact, neither a vanity nor another simplification of the existing work. It is always a partnership suggestion; in a partnership, which becomes never boring as it is guaranteed. An “open relationship” including intimate bond of trust.
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AUSTRIA - JAPAN SILENT FILM PROJECT #2 and #3 2007/ 2008
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AUSTRIA - JAPAN SILENT FILM PROJECT #2 was held in April 2007 and #3 in March 2008 in response to the successful performances in April 2006. This time Gerhard Gruber worked together with three benshis - Midori Sawato, Mami Sakurai (2007) and Ichiro Kataoka.
Many thanks to Mr. Michael Haider, Mr. Arnold Obermayr, Mr. Jun Takahashi
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Gerhard Gruber performing in Tokyo, JP - 2006
Gerhard Gruber made his first visit to Japan, and brought the legendary masterpiece films "Cafe Electric" and "Moon of Israel" vividly back to life by working together with Sawato Midori, the benshi who represents Japan! A dream collaboration work by two incredible artists! (Matsuda Films)
18.April, 19Uhr ForeignCorrespondents'Club
of Japan - "Cafe Electric"
20.April, 19Uhr Azabu Kumin Centre - "Cafe Electric"
22.April, 13Uhr Setagaya Art Museum (sh.Foto) - "Die Sklavenkönigin/ Moon of Israel" & "Cafe Electric"
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Visitor voices Tokyo
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The audience was dumb struck by Gruber's dynamic and delicate performance of his magic piano which blended so perfectly with Sawato's masterful benshi-narration. Six film critics and editors have stayed after the presentation to chat with G.Gruber and Midori Sawato. They unanimously praised the duo's high quality performance and the sponsorship of the Austrian embassy for this unique cultural project.
We didn't know what was silent film nor benshi until yesterday.
The story was interesting but because of Mr.Gruber's piano and
Ms. Sawato's narration, we experienced feelings beyond conventional films. We were flabbergasted. Thank you indeed.
Wish such presentation would be shown more to the younger generations.
Special Film Premiere at FCCJ. The chemistry of Sawato-san's seasoned, impersonated narration and Mr. Gruber's improvised piano accompaniment was just superb!!
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"Kurutta Ippeiji - A page of madness"
Motovun Film Festival 2007
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One of the rare opportunities to be seen in Europe: Japanese benshi Ichiro Kataoka and Austrian silent movie pianist Gerhard Gruber performing Kinugasa´s famous "Kurutta Ippeiji - A page of madness" at the Motovun Film Festival (Croatia), July 24th 2007
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Repertoire of silent movies
Gerhard Gruber has played for silent movies like
Metropolis, Die freudlose Gasse, Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari, Alraune, Die Nibelungen, Moon of Israel, Sodom and Gomorrha, Der junge Medardus, Pandoras Box, Cafe Electric, Die Stadt ohne Juden, Faust, Die Puppe, The Marriage Circle, Die Austernprinzessin, Merry-go-round, The Crowd Hexen, Oktober, Panzerkreuzer Potemkin, Semlja, Die Generallinie Nosferatu, Die Spinnen, Nanook of the North, Das Alte und das Neue, Der Golem, Miss Mend, Japanische Maedchen am Hafen, Lonesome, Broadway, The Last Performance, Thomas Graals bester Film, Champagner, Der Mann mit der Kamera, Die Filmprimadonna, Manon Lescaut, Sturm ueber Asien,Le Brasier ardent, Le Lion des Moguls, La Maison de Mystere, Nana, Maldone
Buster Keaton:
The General Our Hospitality The Navigator The Cameraman
Seven Chances The Pale Face One Week
College Go West
Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy:
The Lucky Dog Liberty Why Girls Love Sailers
Love them and Weep With Love and Hisses Sailors, Beware
Do Detectives Think? Flying Elephants The Second Hundred Years
Their Purple Moment The Finishing Touch
Harold Lloyd:
Safety Last! Speedy The Freshman
Girl Shy The Kid Brother For Heaven´s Sake
Number, please Haunted Spooks
Charlie Chaplin:
The Rink Work A Night Out
The Pawnshop The Pilgrim The Kid
The Vagabond A Dog´s Life The Champion
The Tramp The Fireman Police
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» www.stummfilm.at - hundreds of silent movie descriptions - a service by Gerhard Gruber
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Music for the films
"Cafe Elektric", "Der Wiener Prater im Film" and "Die Stadt ohne Juden"
Gerhard Gruber has composed the music for the films "Der Wiener Prater im Film" (silent movie parts) and for "Die Stadt ohne Juden/ City without Jews" (together with Adula Ibn Quadr, violin and Peter Rosmanith, percussion.) Both films were published by Filmarchiv Austria, Vienna. He also wrote a lot of compositions for the Filmkunst-Musikverlag, Munich.
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» listen to film music by Gerhard Gruber
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Music for theatre
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As a musician for theatre, Gerhard Gruber has composed the music not only for independent theatre groups, but also for large stages in Austria,Switzerland, Germany and Australia and as a composer favours the use of film elements and the idea of "acoustic scenery".
He has been working for "Theater in der Josefstadt", "Volkstheater Wien", "Theater an der Winkelwiese,Zurich", "Theater der Jugend, Vienna", "Schauspielhaus,Graz", "Rabenhof Wien", with the Austrian-Tasmanian Actor Justus Neumann
performances in Vienna, Zurich, Hamburg, Melbourne, Brisbane, Graz and others.
Press reviews:
"One of the most inventive, finest and wittiest musicians of the scene" (Die Buehne)
"Gerhard Gruber´s music/soundscapes are erudite and brilliantly constructed." (The Age, Melbourne)
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CIRCUS ELYSIUM - CATAPULT
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Directed by Hanspeter Horner. Dramaturgy by Tess Dryzer. Musical Composition by Gerhard Gruber. Designed by Greg Methe and Hanna Parssinen. Costumes by Sabina Pinsker.
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Premiere: February 6th 2007 in Hobart, Parliament Lawn
Witness young dinosaurs growing to immense proportions, boulders catapulting into teacups, driftwood horses racing in the ring of life, and the speed of light dancing through the air as a wicked fairy creates chaos in our hearts.
Catapult is an exciting new Australian /Austrian co-production, and was assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, the Austrian Ministry for Culture and by the Australia Council for the Arts.
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» visit silentmovie.eu
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Theatre Award
"Grosser Buehnenkunstpreis 2008"
Theatre Award "Nestroypreis 2006" for best Austrian Off-Production
Silent movie:
performances in Tokyo, Hobart, New Zealand, Bordeaux, Hamburg, Vienna, Munich
» weiter...
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On Tour:
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February:
Padova/ Italy
March 2008:
Tokyo
April 2008:
Hobart/ Australia
Rotorua/ New Zealand
October 2008:
Filmfestival Pisek, Czech Republic
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"A PAGE OF MADNESS - KURUTTA IPPEIJI"
Ichiro Kataoka and Gerhard Gruber at the MOTOVUN FILM FESTIVAL 2007
» weiter...
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Gerhard Gruber in Tokyo
weiter...
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Author ILSE AICHINGER about Gerhard Gruber:
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Blue-Toned Silent Film Dreams
He doesn’t wear a Viennese medal of honor, nor does he create a commotion in the parliament and cause guessing games like Michael Jackson. Gerhard Gruber, composer and musician (“the piano player” as I know him), comes from the barren landscape of
the Muehlviertel. He improvises on the piano to the silent films in the triangle that I often move in: between the Metro-Kino, the Breitenseer Lichtspiele, and the Filmmuseum—not Bermuda, but still a place where you can safely disappear.
He is the one who first makes each film possible and, at the same time, unnecessary. Those who have seen his hands move on the illuminated keys might even risk forgetting Chaplin to boost their memory of him. In letting yourself go, should you ask how much you have to let go? For Gerhard Gruber that isn’t relevant. Composing is an intellectual act. As he explains, improvisation is an act of love. “It wouldn’t surprise me if my playing changed the film.” And would this man—someone who knows how much the pictures have lost through dialogue cinema—sign a “petition against the talkies”?
“Gruber’s form of modesty is likewise his greatness,” said Alexander Horwath (of the Austrian Filmmuseum). “The particular situation of silent film music, in which one part is ‘dead’ (which means old and stored on celluloid) and the other part ‘living’ (alive and capable of acting), paradoxically demands a musician who is not satisfied with this situation (with his or her own ‘advantage’), who wants to make the ‘dead’ part just as much alive as he or she is.”
“I am still breathing the air, but I don’t know what I should do with it,” stated E. M. Cioran. Those who listen to Gerhard Gruber play the piano can once again trust their own breath.
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And Der Typ vom Grab nebenan (The guy in the next grave) (today at 6 p.m. in Cine-Kino)? You should help him out of there and quickly bring him, together with the others in danger of apparent death, to Breitensee, to Gerhard Gruber.
First published in: Die Presse, 12 March 2005, as “Der Filmerzieher.”
Translated by Lisa Rosenblatt.
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| Actor HERBERT FUX about Gerhard Gruber:
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Each time I am surprised how sensitive Gerhard Gruber accompanies silent movies on the piano. How self-evident he finds appropriate increase and decay for all the changing screen emotions - silent movie and accompaniment as a unique adventure.
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