Lovely playing on this record by John Kirkpatrick of piano miniatures by Edward MacDowell. I believe the original issue was late 40's by which time, Kirkpatrick had established himself as probably the preeminent interpreter of music for piano by American composers. In his day, he was recognized as an expert in the music of both Charles Ives and Carl Ruggles.
Though his music was not strictly "American sounding," MacDowell was one of the first American born composers to gain fame beyond our shores and he did serve as an inspiration/mentor to others who would develop a more idealized American school of composition. It is important to recognize thta MacDowell's education was wholly European and that his models were based on established forms from the continent. Not to say that MacDowell is an imitator - far from it. His works are individual, often pastoral in outlook, uncomplicated, and they are his way of describing his world in a way that is accessible, forthright, yet full of character. Probably the best comparison is to the composer Grieg who MacDowell was a direct contemporary and admirer of.
This is a beautiful program sensitively presented by John Kirkpatrick.
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