Born: May 12, 1886 - Graz, Austria
Died: July 3, 1969 - Bolzano, Italy

Hermann Grabner was an Austrian composer and music theorist. He took his degree in law at the University of Graz. in 1909. He then studied music with Max Reger and Sitt at the Leipzig Conservatory. He became a lecturer in theory at the Strasbourg Conservatory in 1913, and served in the German army in World War I. After the Armistice, he taught at the Mannheim Conservatory. From 1924 to 1938 he was professor of composition at the Leipzig Conservatory. Then he taught in Berlin: at the Hochschule für Musik from 1938 to 1945, and at the Conservatory from 1950 to 1951.

Hermann Grabner wrote an opera, Die Richterin (Barmen, May 7, 1930); Perkeo Suite and Burgmusik for Wind Orchestra; Concerto for 3 Violins; organ pieces; songs; etc.

Writings

Die Funktionstheorie Hugo Riemanns und ihre Bedeutung für die praktische Anaryse (Munich, 1923); Allegemeine Musiklehre (Stuttgart, 1924; 5^th ed., 1949); Lehrbuch der musikalischen Analyse (Leipzig, 1925); Der lineare Satz; Ein Lehrbuch des Kontrapunktes (Stuttgart, 1930; rev. ed., 1950); Handbuch der Harmonielehre (Berlin, 1944).

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (February 2006)