Amy Beach was recognized as a child prodigy and America's
leading female composer during her lifetime. Her music was primarily in the
Romantic style often compared to Brahms and Rachmaninoff, though later in life
she ventured into more modern techniques. Born into a distinguished New England
family on September 5,, 1867 in Henniker, New Hampshire, she displayed
an early natural talent for music. She began composing simple pieces at the age
of four and at six began formal piano lessons with her mother. A year later she
began giving public recitals of works by Handel, Beethoven, Chopin as well as
her own. In 1875, her family moved to Boston where Beach's parents were urged
to send her to a European conservatory. Instead, they chose to train their
musical daughter locally. Most of her training was as a pianist and for only
one year did she take formal composition lessons.
Her professional debut as a concert pianist came in 1883
when she performed Chopin's Rondo in E-flat major and Ignaz Moscheles's
Concerto in G minor. Two years later, however, she married Dr. Henry Harris
Aubrey Beach. At his request, she limited her public performances to one
concert a year and devoted more time to composing. Her first major success was
the Mass in E-flat major which premiered in 1892 and established her as one of
America's leading composers.
Following her husband's death in 1910, Beach set out on a
three-year tour of Europe to established herself there as both a composer and
pianist. She returned to the United States in 1914 and eventually moved to New
York. Using her status as one of America's leading composers and certainly as
its foremost female composer, Beach sought to help young musicians further
their careers. She retired in 1940 and passed away on
December 27, 1944 due to heart disease.
Amy Beach
Biography
Amy Beach was recognized as a child prodigy and America's leading female composer during her lifetime. Her music was primarily in the Romantic style often compared to Brahms and Rachmaninoff, though later in life she ventured into more modern techniques. Born into a distinguished New England family on September 5,, 1867 in Henniker, New Hampshire, she displayed an early natural talent for music. She began composing simple pieces at the age of four and at six began formal piano lessons with her mother. A year later she began giving public recitals of works by Handel, Beethoven, Chopin as well as her own. In 1875, her family moved to Boston where Beach's parents were urged to send her to a European conservatory. Instead, they chose to train their musical daughter locally. Most of her training was as a pianist and for only one year did she take formal composition lessons.
Her professional debut as a concert pianist came in 1883 when she performed Chopin's Rondo in E-flat major and Ignaz Moscheles's Concerto in G minor. Two years later, however, she married Dr. Henry Harris Aubrey Beach. At his request, she limited her public performances to one concert a year and devoted more time to composing. Her first major success was the Mass in E-flat major which premiered in 1892 and established her as one of America's leading composers.
Following her husband's death in 1910, Beach set out on a three-year tour of Europe to established herself there as both a composer and pianist. She returned to the United States in 1914 and eventually moved to New York. Using her status as one of America's leading composers and certainly as its foremost female composer, Beach sought to help young musicians further their careers. She retired in 1940 and passed away on December 27, 1944 due to heart disease.