Bernard Grun


Bernard Grun was a German composer, conductor, and author. He is primarily remembered as the compiler of The Timetables of History.

Life

Grün was born on 11 February 1901 in Startsch, Moravia, Austria-Hungary. He completed a degree in philosophy and a doctorate in law at Vienna and Prague, going on to study music theory at Vienna's national music academy under Alban Berg, Hans Gál, Felix von Weingartner, and Egon Wellesz. He composed chamber music and songs and took work as a conductor in Karlsruhe and Mannheim before joining the Comedy House in Vienna.
His first major work was the 1929 Bohemian Musicians, performed in Vienna in 1930. He completed Marlene's Wedding and Gaby before being forced to leave Austria ahead of its unification with Nazi Germany. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1935, anglicising his name to "Bernard Grun".
In 1946, he published his compilation The Timetables of History, adapted from Werner Stein's Kulturfahrplan, presenting human history since 5000 in tabular form. Each century, then decade, then year, is presented with its major events divided under the seven headings:
It has been in constant publication, with the most recent update in 2005.
Over the course of his life, he served as the musical director of theatres in Prague, Vienna, Berlin, and London, including His Majesty's Theatre. In addition to his own output, he was also responsible for adapting various musical works, including Bizet's Carmen, Lehár's Count of Luxembourg, Millöcker's Dubarry, and Benatzky's White Horse Inn. He married the British fashion designer Edith Hart.
He died on 28 December 1972 in London.

Works

Print

Grun authored the books:
Grun composed the music for over 30 musicals, including:
Grun's work featured in over 60 films, mainly in the 1930s and '40s, including: