Kriens, Christiaan Pieter Wilhelm jr. 29.apr.1881-17.dec.1934 Germany, Dresden - USA Connecticut, West Hartford (suicide)
violinist, pianist, conductor, born with Netherlands nationality in Dresden where his father was clarinetist at the Sachsen court at that time, toured as child violinist in the Netherlands, 1895 studied violin, piano and composition at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag, at a young age concertmaster of the Haarlems Orkest in the Netherlands, 1896-1899 toured Europe as violinist, conductor at the casinos of Boulogne-sur-mer and Biarritz in France, 23.oct.1900 emigrated from France to America, where he was violinist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, 15.jun.1904 settled in New York as first violinist at the Metropolitan Opera, 1911 founded the Kriens String Quartet, 1912-1929 founded/led the orchestral school Kriens Symphony Club at 303 Carnegie Hall New York, he resided in Elizabeth New Jersey, 23.mar.1927 he became naturized American after his petition of 15.jun.1922 had been denied because of his divorce and unclear nationality, 1929 director of the radio station WTIC in Hartford, 1932 residing at 28 Canterbury Street, despondent over his inability to find further work he committed suicide ; son of Christiaan sr. ; brother of Martinus ; 1905-1930 married to artist Louisa Eleanor (Massachusetts 1897-) ; daughter Louise (Long Island, Hempstead 1.apr.1919-) ; 1930 married to dancer/stage manager Esther C (Massachusetts 7.mar.1896-) ; 1931-1934 married to Mathilda C (New York City 1893-)

[Saerchinger 1918 and Baker 1919 give erroneously born Amsterdam, Baker 1958 gives erroneously born Brussels]

Title Parts


[] Symphony no1 in C
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

[] Symphony no2 in F
Haarlems Stedelijk Muziekkorps, conducted by Christiaan Kriens aged 14 at the Paleis voor Volksvlijt and Natura Artis Magistra in Amsterdam 1895

[] Concerto en re majeur pour violon et orchestre. Violin concerto
pub A. Joanin & Co., Paris 1908

[] In Holland. Orchestral suite. 1909. op67
Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Lamoureux Orchestras
[] 1 - Morgen op de Zuyder-Zee (Morning on the Zuiderzee)
[] 2 - De Hollandse molen (The dutch mill)
[] 3 - Avondgeluiden (Evening sounds)
[] 4 - Klompendans (Wooden shoe dance)
[] My dainty lady. Piano
pub Theodore Presser, Philadelphia 1903

[] Dans la campagne. Violin and piano
pub A. Joanin & Co., Paris 1906

[] Serenade melancolique. Violin and piano
pub A. Joanin & Co., Paris 1906

[] Suite Happy spring. Violin and piano
pub Carl Fischer, New York 1908

[] La nymphe bocagere (The wood nymph). Flute and piano. 1909
Leone Buyse, Martin Amlin. Crystal Records 716

[] Rooseveld marsch. Military band
Haarlemsch Muziekkorps / Chr. P. W. Kriens sr. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam 27aug1910

[] Wals-coquette. String orchestra
pub Carl Fischer, New York 1910
Concertgebouworkest / Cornelis Dopper. Amsterdam 23jun1910

[] Du pais lontain. String orchestra
Concertgebouworkest / Cornelis Dopper. Amsterdam 23jun1910

[] Livre de la vie. Song
words Alphonse de Lamartine
pub Rouart-Lerolle et Cie., Paris 1910

[] Meditation. Song. Voice, violin and cello
words Barry Cornwall
pub Carl Fisher, New York 1910

[] Violin sonata no1. 1912
[] Violin sonata no2. Violin and piano
pub A. Mathot, Paris 1912

[] String quartet in b flat. op74
pub M. Witmark & Sons, New York 1912

[] Villanelle (Shepherd song). Orchestra. op76
pub Carl Fischer, New York 1913

[] En Bretagne (Suite Bretonne)
The Kriens Symphony Club, New York 1914
Residentieorkest / Rhene Baton, Kurhauszaal Scheveningen 2sep1915

[] The star in the east. Christmas cantata
words Charles Reynolds
pub Carl Fisher, New York 1919
also published as Suite for organ Carl Fischer, New York 1916
Mrs. W. W. Pease at organ of the Central Presbyterian Chuch, Massillon Ohio 26dec1955

[] Ronde des lutins. Flute, oboe and clarinet
pub Carl Fischer, New York 1928

[] Les rois en exil. Symphonic poem
[] Flute sonata
2008-06-07 00:00:00