The best-known American composer of his day, Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) wrote numerous descriptive short pieces for solo piano -- miniature tone poems inspired by poetry, fairy tales, nature, and in particular, the New England countryside.

FOR FURTHER READING

• Catalogue of an exhibition illustrating the life and work of Edward MacDowell, 1861-1908: Professor of Music in Columbia University 1896-1904: together with the addresses delivered at the opening ceremony, April 27, 1938. New York: Columbia University Library, 1938.
• Gilman, Lawrence. Edward MacDowell: a study. New York: DaCapo Press, 1969.
• Levy, Alan Howard. Edward MacDowell: an American master. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 1998. In Music Library: ML410.M12 L48 1998
• Porte, John Fielder. Edward MacDowell: a great American tone poet, his life and music. New York: Dutton, 1922. In Music Library: MT92.M13 P6
• Sonneck, Oscar George Theodore. Catalogue of first editions of Edward MacDowell (1861-1908). Washington: Library of Congress/Music Division; Govt. Print. Office, 1917. In Music Library: ML134.M3 S66

WEB SITES

• MacDowell Colony
  http://www.macdowellcolony.org/
  For information on the artists' colony founded in MacDowell's name. Open with Internet Explorer.
• Edward MacDowell Inducted into American Classical Music Hall of Fame
  http://www.macdowellcolony.org/history.html
  Good, short biography.
• Edward Alexander MacDowell
  http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~dav4is/people/PERK928.htm
  Brief biography; links to other MacDowell web sites.
• Jonathan Hiller's Edward MacDowell Page
  http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~jhiller/macdowell.html
  Links to MIDI files of MacDowell's music.
• Public domain piano music MIDI sequenced
  http://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza/index.html
• ClassicNet: Reviews of MacDowell's music on CD
  http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/master/m.html#Macdowell