Grischkat was born in
Hamburg. He studied at the
University of Tübingen, first natural sciences, then
musicology. He studied at the
Musikhochschule Stuttgart with
Hermann Keller. Grischkat was active in the . He founded in 1924 the
Reutlinger Singkreis, in 1931 the and in 1936 in Stuttgart the Grischkat-Singkreis. In 1945, he founded the orchestra Schwäbisches Symphonie-Orchester Reutlingen which is now known as the , serving as the conductor until 1950. Grischkat was in 1926 the first in
Württemberg to perform Bach's
St John Passion without cuts, and with period instruments. In 1935 he conducted Bach's
St Matthew Passion in
historically informed performance, which became influential in southern Germany. To celebrate Bach's bicentenary of death in 1950, Grischkat compiled single movement cantata, with new texts, to a concert
Vom Reiche Gottes (Of God's Kingdom), following an idea by
Albert Schweitzer. Grischkat was at the same time the church musician of the in
Reutlingen and from 1950 a professor of choral conducting at the
Musikhochschule Stuttgart. Among his students were
Frieder Bernius,
Wolfgang Gönnenwein,
Hanns-Friedrich Kunz and
Helmuth Rilling. He edited and published for
Hänssler the series
Die Kantate, offering sheet music of sacred works and background. He died in
Stuttgart. == Recording ==