Edward MacDowell
#173,843 Most Popular
About
Romantic-era composer and pianist best remembered for "Woodland Sketches," "Sea Pieces," "New England Idylls," and other piano suites. His most popular piece was "To a Wild Rose" from "Woodland Sketches." He sometimes worked under the pseudonym Edgar Thorn.
Before Fame
He was first instructed on piano by Colombian violinist Juan Buitrago. He was also trained by Venezuelan pianist and composer Teresa Carreño.
Trivia
He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1904, part of the first group of Americans to be honored in this way.
Family Life
His family relocated to Paris in 1877, enabling him to attend the Paris Conservatoire. He married Marian Griswold Nevins, one of his piano students, in 1884.
Associated With
His career was ended after a Hansom cab ran over him in 1904, causing him to suffer from dementia and lost mental capabilities. His family was helped by a Mendelssohn Glee Club fundraiser. Many contributed, including former President Grover Cleveland.
