American classical composer
Bruno Oscar Klein (6 June 1858 — 22 June 1911) was an American composer and organist of German origin. He wrote a number of works for orchestra, some chamber music, church music, and a large number of songs.
Life and career.
Born in Osnabrück, Klein began his musical training in piano and composition with his father who made a living as an organist. He then studied at the Munich Conservatory (MC) from 1875-1878 where he was a pupil of Carl Baermann, Josef Rheinberger, and Franz Wüllner.
After graduating from the MC, Klein came to the United States in 1878 at the age of 20. After touring and concertizing for several years, he settled in New York City in 1883 where he became involved with managing the German Theatre on Madison Ave. He served as the head of the piano department at the Convent of the Sacred Heart from 1884 until his death 27 years later. In 1894-1895 he returned to Germany to perform as a concert soloist. He was organist at the Church of Saint Francis Xavier from 1884 to 1894 and at St. Ignatius Loyola from 1900 until his death. He taught voice and composition on the faculty at the National Conservatory of Music of America and out of a private studio, and was a member of the New York State Music Teachers' Association. Among his pupils were Paul Ambrose, Oscar Saenger, and Clara Anna Korn.
He also was an officer of New York's musical club The Tonkünstler Society founded in 1898 (along with colleagues like Leo Schulz, Edward Graef, and Louis Saar). In 1907, he was a founding member of another music club the Bohemian Club (along with notable colleagues like Rubin Goldmark, Rafael Joseffy, and Max Spicker). In 1904 he founded the Dramatic Oratorio Society with Selma Kronold with the goal of producing musical dramas based on the bible.
Klein died in 1911 at his home on Madison Ave in Manhattan. He was 53 years old; he was survived by his wife Olive and son Karl Klein. Karl was a violin prodigy born in 1886 who studied in New York with Ovide Musin and Eugene Boegner, and in Europe with Ysaye, Arno Hilf, and August Wilhelmj. He was a Steinway Artist.
Among the compositions dedicated to Klein were Gaston Dethier's organ composition "Andante Grazioso" and Constantin von Sternberg's 4 Piano Pieces.