Evening star., 1908-01-24
FAMOUS COMPOSER DEAD.
Edward A. Mcdowell Created 13O
Musical Works

| NEW YORK. January 24.-Edward
| Alexander MacDowell. who has been
recognized Americas foremost com
poser. died at the Westminster Hotel at
! s o'clock last night. He was forty-six
! years of age Death was due TO ner-
vous affection. In the spring of 1900,
while still in his prime. Mr. MacDowell
suffered a nervous collapse from which
he failed to recover.
Mr. Mcdowell. who was destined to be
known as composer and pianist not
only in his own. but in foreign lands. was
born in this city December Is. 1861 He
studied in Paris and at Frankfort-on- the
Main, and taught the piano at Darn
stadt Conservatory and at Wiesbaden.
When he returned TO this country. IN
1883. and took UP his home in Boston.
he was already famous a composer oi
orchestral. piano and vocal music. In
1896 he became professor of music at
Columbia University. and held that po-
siton until 1904. II 1s31-'9S he was presl-
dent of the American Society Of Mnsl-
clans and Composers. MacDowell place
among modern composers. of course mas
not yet been definitely fixed. but the pest
critical opinion not only III America. but
in Europe. assigns him a high standing.
4 movement for the raising of = mae
Dowell memorial fund has been in prog
ress for some time, and several thousand
dollars have been raised by subscription
and by the giving Of 'MacDowell con
certs" by various musical orsaniZaiinns
i'm different parts of the country ne
chief aim of the promoters-leadinG mi-
sicians and patrons of musical art-was
to insure the comfort of the composer
in his helplessness following his break
down and that of his family. Secondarlly.
it was proposed to establish 1T the Mac
Dowell home in Peterboro Il home Tor
musicians as a memorial to the composer.
About 130 compositions bear his name:
OF these the piano sonatas. lraSica'
N ii "a
dian Suite" for orchestra. The Wood
land Sketches" New England 10,
and Sea Pieces are perhaps best
known A number of songs are second
only to his work for piano and orchestra.
Two American universities. Princeton
and the University of PENNSYLVANIA. gave
him the degrees of doctor Of music
He married Marian Nevins OF New
York herself a musician, in 1881. N-'h
her he established home in Boston.
where he lived until 1896 when he was
called to the chair of music IN Columbia
University. After eight years in LAS
post he resigned. SAYING at the time that
his resignation arose from the tact that
the university authorities and President
Butler in particular We're unwilling TO
accord to his department what he deemed
necessary for its progress and efficiency.
For many years Mr.. MacDowell main
tanned a summer home at Peterboro. n
H., and here he did much of his later
composing This home he later decided
to the MacDowell Club of which many
representative men in the various arts
are on the advisory board, with the view
of establishing retreat for art students.
The continued strain of concert play
ing. composing. and. above all, of teach
ing. brought about the end of his work
ing life in March. 1903. The musicians
brain gave way under the strain, and
since that time he has been spoken of as
dying.