Teacher's Guide 

Overview Edward MacDowell was the first American composer of classical music to be acclaimed by both Europeans and Americans. Born in 1861 and raised in New York City, Edward began his piano lessons at the age of eight. He learned quickly and showed great promise. For any gifted young musician with adequate funds, proper training could only be found in Europe. Edward finished his five years of studies at the Frankfurt Conservatory at the age of twenty. He supported himself in Germany teaching private piano lessons and was introduced to a promising young student, Marian Griswold Nevins, from Waterford, Connecticut. She studied with Edward for three years and they developed a warm friendship. They married in 1884, and eventually settled in Boston. Edward's teaching and performing schedule left him little time for his own creative work. Marian rented a vacation house in Peterborough where Edward found success composing. In 1896, they bought a house called "Hillcrest" in Peterborough. Edward's finest music was composed in Peterborough--music that exhibits less European influence and incorporates many American traditions in music such as Indian chants, Negro spirituals, and American folk songs. Edward was offered the first professorship of the department of music at Columbia University. He used his platform to advocate that artists are enriched by association with artists in other disciplines. While Edward was on sabbatical in 1902-1903, the President of the University replaced him, in part because of his integrated art philosophy. This devastated Edward. His health deteriorated and he died at the early age of forty-six in January, 1908. Additional Lessons: Episode 1: Living at the Colony Episode 3: The History of the Colony Bibliography