MacDowell - "From an Indian Lodge"

"From an Indian Lodge" from Woodland Sketches Op. 51 (1896)

While a few composers active in 19th-century America integrated or paraphrased Native American melodies in their works, MacDowell was the first significant composer (even before Dvorak) to write several works featuring transcriptions of authentic Native American melodies that had recently been published by American ethnomusicologists. For two of his piano pieces, From an Indian Lodge and Indian Idyl MacDowell incorporated Indian song, rhythms, and drum-like effects. His efforts would influence and help inspire an American music movement spearheaded by a faction of composers (Arthur Farwell, Charles Wakefield Cadman, and Henry Gilbert) known as the "American Indianists" who operated roughly from 1890 to 1920.

Edward MacDowell (1861-1908) was born in America, but his musical education was formed abroad. He studied piano at the Paris Conservatory where he was a classmate of Debussy. MacDowell later moved to Germany to study piano and composition and met some of the star European composers of the day, including Liszt. Through Liszt, MacDowell met Joachim Raff and became his pupil. In 1888, MacDowell returned to America and concertized as a pianist, which led to his being recognized as one of the great emerging American musicians. His status as an American composer also rose dramatically after he published numerous orchestral and piano works.

When a teaching vacancy opened at the new music department of Columbia University in 1896, MacDowell was offered the post, which he promptly accepted. He became the first professor of music at Columbia and taught there for a number of years. In the last four years of his life, MacDowell suffered from a brain disease and his disintegrating health led to his death in 1908. By the time of his death, MacDowell had been applauded by American critics and audiences as a gifted piano virtuoso and one of America's greatest composers.

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Music

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• edward
• macdowell
• liszt
• brahms

[Starwalker6978]

This music is excellent for children's music education! There are a lot of good ideas in this music; MacDowell's piano works are like illustrations in a children's book - they may appear charming, but never as great music. Did he not write several piano cycles for children?

[Hexameron]

Actually, no. He wrote plenty of piano miniatures for amateur pianists, but nothing overtly intended for children. I agree with you to some extent that many of his miniatures are charming, but not that substantive, with the exception of Fireside Tales and Sea Pieces.

I'd be wary to categorize MacDowell's "piano works" as charming but never great... have you heard the sonatas? Those are robust, stern, full-blooded Romantic powerhouses.

[gerardbedecarter]

Thanks for uploading this!

[angellikespie222]

@Starwalker6978 you classify MacDowell as excellent for children's music education? What do you consider a child and when might you give these pieces to said "child"? It doesn't take a genius to play these pieces; however it takes a master to perfect even the "simplest" of any composer's creations

[guillatra]

I think I should try to play it. It sounds good!

[nuclearRabbit123]

macdowell is next to scriabin and cage my favorite composer for piano

[TheMikester307]

His music recaptures a long-gone vision of America.

[radioplug14]

As an aspiring theorist, I'm actually finding his works have a lot of substance to them. It's really deep though. He mastered composition better than his teacher, Raff, in my opinion.

But the Woodland Sketches (probably his most "famous" collection of works) are not meant for children. This piece is much more difficult than it first appears.

[Starwalker6978]

I'll listen his piano sonatas, I've never listened them well enough to form a judgement. As for the Sea Pieces, I never came across a recording. The Fireside Tales are interesting indeed; The Haunted House, which you have posted is one of my favourites.

[emilygclarinet]

Fascinating music!