Felix Greissle

Felix Greissle was born in Vienna, Austria on November 15, 1894. He began his musical training as a cellist.^[1] He studied musicology at the University of Vienna where he was a pupil of Guido Adler.^[2]

In 1919 Greissle began private lessons with composer Arnold Schoenberg,^[2] and in 1921 Griessle married Gertrud Schoenberg (named for her mother Gertrud Schoenberg); the composer's eldest daughter.^[1] He was married to Gertrud until her death in 1947. Schoenberg employed Greissle as a rehearsal coach and conductor^[2] for his Society for Private Musical Performances.^[1] This lead to Greissle conducting the premieres of several of Schoenberg's works; including the Schoenberg Wind Quintet (1924).^[1] Schoenberg's Drei Satiren (Op. 28) was composed for Greissle in 1925-1926.^[2] He also wrote new arrangements for several of Schoenberg's pieces; including one for Five Pieces for Orchestra.^[1]

From 1925 to 1937 Greissle was conductor of the Cantata Society of the Vienna State Opera.^[1] With the events surrounding the Anschluss in 1938, Greissle fled Germany for the United States.^[1] He settled in New York City^[1] where he married his second wife, Jacqueline S. Rafkind, in 1948.^[3] He became a naturalized American citizen that same year.^[4][5]

Greissle worked as a music editor for G. Schirmer from 1938 to 1946 and then Edward B. Marks from 1946 until his retirement.^[1] He concurrently taught music theory and conducting both privately and on the faculties of several institutions; including Columbia University, the Philadelphia Musical Academy (later renamed the University of the Arts), the 92nd Street Y, and The New School for Music. He wrote a manuscript about Schoenberg which he completed shortly before his death in Manhasset, New York on April 26, 1982 at the age of 87.^[2]