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A Tribute to Edward MacDowell
on the sesquicentennial anniversary of his birth
Born: New York, New York, 18 December 1860
Died: New York, New York, 23 January 1908
Edward Alexander MacDowell was born in New York in 1860 and died there in 1908.
He was known mostly for his piano suites, such as: Woodland Sketches, Sea Pieces, and New England Idyls.
His most famous piano piece was "To A Wild Rose" from Woodland Sketches.
He also composed a large number of songs and a small amount of orchestral works, including two concertos (First in 1885/ Second in 1890) and two suites (First completed in 1893/ Second in 1897). His Second Orchestral Suite (subtitled "Indian") was said to be his own personal favorite work and is deservedly in need of more attention.
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In the year of his death, his widow Marion Nevins MacDowell, had published a collection of her husband's short poems, under the title:
Verses by Edward MacDowell (Arthur P. Schmidt, 1908)
At the back of this small book is an Index which indicates which poems were written for each of MacDowell's works. Here are several short poems written for his New England Idyls piano suite:
In Deep Woods
Above, long slender shafts of opal flame,
Below, the dim cathedral aisles;
The mystery of immortal things
Broods o'er the woods at eve.Indian Idyl
Alone by the wayward flame
She weaves broad wampum skeins
While afar through the summer night
Sigh the wooing flutes' soft strains.Edward MacDowell was a composer of significant talent and melodic gifts.
He represented a time during the late 19th century when American composers were still based mainly on Germanic models.
Though hardly an innovator, like Charles Ives, Edward MacDowell deserves to be remembered for his appealing programatic music of great sensitivity.
His love of nature is echoed in much of his music and also in the last poem of his collection:
The Joy of Autumn
From hill-top to vale,
Through meadow and dale,
Young Autumn doth wake the world;
And naught shall avail,
But our souls shall sail
With the flag of life unfurled.
Edward MacDowell was a superior artist of Late Romantic expression.
Roger Lee Hall, September 2010
Some Recommended Recordings on Naxos
Edward MacDowell: Piano Music, Volume I
See the other CDs in this series performed
by James Barbagallo:Edward MacDowell: Piano Music, Volume 2
Edward MacDowell: Piano Music, Volume 3
Edward MacDowell: Piano Music, Volume4
Also these works with orchestra:
Edward MacDowell: Piano Concertos and Other Works
Edward MacDowell: Suite No. 1/ Suite No. 2 (Indian)/
Symphonic Poem: Hamlet & Ophelia
For more information click on these links:
Edward MacDowell (Wikipedia article)
Edward MaCDowell Biography (Naxos)
MacDowell's Place in American Music
(Richard Aldrich, New York Times, January 1908)
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