At the end of the 19th century, many thought that Edward MacDowell was the great composer America had been waiting for. He may have been. But if so, he was a great American composer cut down in his prime. The music of MacDowell is lyrical, vigorous, and at times gripping, but we get the feeling that we are witnessing the first blossoming of a great artist, one about to enter the later stages of a career that never happened.
I've been thinking about posting this and finally found a place!!! My most recurrent ear worm song by far is, "To a Wild Rose," by Edward McDowell. Looked up the traditional words once so I could at least sing it (by Hermann Hagedorn): Come, oh, songs. Come, oh, dreams Soft the gates of day close Sleep, my birds, sleep, streams Sleep, my wild rose Pool and bud, hill and deep You who wore my robes, sleep Droop, East. Die, West Let my land rest ... it gets worse ... Nobody talks like that! Recently ran across this newer version by Kenny Rankin, but I can't get 3 words. I have to know every word to a song---it's an OCPD thing. Will give a prize to anyone who can figure out the 3 missing words
MacDowell Colony RETREAT, PETERBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, UNITED STATES Edward and Marian MacDowell "MacDowell Colony, retreat for artists, the oldest and among the largest artist colonies in the United States. It was founded in 1907 by pianist Marian Nevins MacDowell (1857–1956) and her husband, composer Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860–1908), at their summer home in Peterborough, N.H. They had found inspiration in the wooded setting and envisaged a sanctuary for other creative artists." "After Edward’s death Marian devoted her remaining 48 years to expanding and guiding the colony. During her lifetime nearly 500 writers, more than 200 composers, and 170 painters used the colony as a working retreat. Originally a summer facility, it began year-round operations in 1955."