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The American composer Edward Alexander MacDowell,
b. New York City, Dec. 18, 1860, d. Jan. 23, 1908, was a significant
figure in the history of American music. A composer of nearly
first rank internationally at the end of the 19th century,
he helped raise American musical standards higher than they
had ever been before.
MacDowell received his early musical training in New York
City. In his day, fully professional musical training could
be obtained only in Europe, so at the age of 15 he went to
Paris, and 3 years later he entered the Frankfurt Conservatory,
where he studied with Joachim Raff and developed a musical
style not unlike his teacher's. MacDowell was often inspired
by romantic imagery, and many of his works have poetic titles
such as Forest Idyls (1884) and Woodland Sketches (1896).
After developing a reputation in Europe, MacDowell returned
to the United States, settling in Boston in 1888 as a leader
of the musical community. The Boston Symphony Orchestra performed
many of his works; MacDowell appeared as piano soloist with
the orchestra. In 1896 he became the first professor of music
at Columbia University. A dispute over the status of the arts
at the university, however, led to his resignation in 1904,
and the following year he suffered a complete mental breakdown.
After his death his wife gave their summer residence in Peterborough,
N.H., to the newly established MacDowell Memorial Association,
and it became the site of the annual summer Peterborough Festival
of the arts and the MacDowell Colony for musicians, artists,
and writers.
MacDowell is best known for his descriptive piano pieces,
such as "To a Wild Rose," and his two piano concertos.
His other works include piano sonatas, symphonic poems, songs,
and choral works.
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