| Series |
Composers of North America ; no. 16
Composers of North America ; no. 16. ^A191193
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| Contents |
Part I. The life of Amy Beach. The early years: 1867-1885. Life in pre-twentieth century Boston ; Amy Marcy Cheney -- The married years: 1885-1910. Life as Mrs. H.H.A. Beach ; Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, pianist and composer ; A time of crisis -- The European years: 1911-1914 -- The American concert years: 1914-1918 -- The mature years: 1919-1930 -- The last years: 1931-1944 -- Part II. Compositions and compositional style. An introduction to the music -- The musical signature. Trill and tremolo ; Chromatic scales ; Octaves -- Elements of style. Melody ; Harmony ; Rhythm and tempo ; Texture ; Form -- The chamber works with piano. Romance, opus 23 ; Sonatae in A moll, opus 34. Allegro moderato ; Scherzo/molto vivace ; Largo con dolore ; Allegro con fuoco -- Three pieces for violin and piano, opus 40. La captive ; Berceuse ; Mazurka -- Invocation for the violin (with piano), opus 55 -- Quintet in F sharp minor, opus 67. Adagio/allegro moderato ; Adagio espressivo ; Allegro agitato -- Suite for two pianos, opus 104. Prelude ; Old-time peasant dance ; The ancient cabin ; Finale -- Trio, opus 150, for violin, cello and piano. Allegro ; Lento espressivo ; Allegro con brio -- The chamber works without piano. Quartet for strings, opus 89 ; Theme and variations for flute and string quartet, opus 80 ; Pastorale, no opus -- Manuscript chamber works. Pastorale, opus 90, no. 1 for violin and piano ; Water sprites, opus 90 for flute, cello and piano ; Lento espressivo, opus 125, for violin and piano ; Barcarolle, no opus, for violin and piano ; Dreaming, no opus, a transcription for cello and piano from the piano piece, Dreaming, opus 15 -- Part III. Catalog of music. |
| Abstract |
Born at a time when women were excluded from the profession of music composition, Amy Beach's reputation as a composer and a virtuoso pianist was prominent. As an American composer at the turn of the century, she is esteemed as the first woman to write a symphony and a mass. Throughout her life, she won acclaim in the United States, Canada, and Europe as a prominent composer and concert pianist. This book begins with a lengthy biography describing Beach's personal and professional life. It is enriched with the correspondence of friends and colleagues such as Foote, Chadwick, Paine, Holmes, and Longfellow, and numerous photographs. From beginning to end, her life is documented with critical reviews and original papers from the Library of Congress and University of New Hampshire collections. Beach's chamber music works are masterpieces. Described individually, each score and manuscript is reviewed theoretically and historically. An extensive catalog contains the most complete list of all published and unpublished works with performance comments. This book has been created for the musician, historian, and women's studies enthusiast. Its intention is to stimulate renewed interest in both American music and the life of a unique woman. |
| Local note | Little-302610--305131008380W |
| Local note | Little-302610--305131008380W |
| General note | Based on the author's thesis (doctoral)--University of Maryland, College Park, 1993. |
| Bibliography note | "Catalog of music": pages 337-362. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 385-397) and index. |
| LCCN | 94009689 |
| ISBN | 0810828847 (acid-free paper) |
