MacDOWELL, Edward Alexander [1860-1908] -- American composer

He was born in New York city, Dec. 18, 1861; son of Thomas F. and Frances M. (Knapp) MacDowell and grandson of Alexander MacDowell and of Darius Knapp. He studied the piano under several masters and in 1876 went to Paris, France, where he continued his studies under Marmontel. He studied composition under Savard in Paris and Joachim Raft in Germany. He resided in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, 1879-81, and devoted himself to composition and teaching the piano in Wiesbaden, 1884-88; was a teacher of the piano in the Darmstadt conservatory, 1881-84, and in 1888 returned to America, settling in Boston as a teacher and concert pianist. He subsequently made several visits to Germany. He was appointed professor of music in Columbia university, N.Y., in 1896. He appeared frequently as soloist with the Boston Symphony orchestra and other well-known musical organizations. He was elected to the presidency of the Society of American Musicians and Composers, New York, in 1899, holding it one year, and was director of the Mendelssohn Glee club, 1896-98. Princeton university conferred upon him the honorary degree of Mus. Doc. in 1896. His compositions include several symphonic poems for orchestra, concertos for piano and orchestra, suites for orchestra including Indian Suite, and numerous notable songs and piano works, among the latter two suites and four sonatas. BDNA