A Place for the Arts
Donald Macleod focuses on Marian MacDowell, who was instrumental in setting up the MacDowell artists' colony. Plus music by Wenhui Xie, Amy Beach and Marion Bauer.
You can see why composers love the place: birches, beeches, maples, breathtaking natural beauty and, above all, silence. Since composer Edward MacDowell founded his 'colony' in 1907 some five thousand artists have visited to find inspiration and peace.
Among the so-called colonists are more than a century of women composers who have left their work on classical music. This week Donald Macleod explores the breadth and impact of their work and recalls his own trip to the colony, soaking up the beauty of the site in the dazzling colours of Fall in New England.
Today that crimson light falls partly on Marian MacDowell, pianist wife of Edward, who was instrumental not just in setting up the colony but also had carte blanche in the early days to select who came. There's music from 19-time visitor Marion Bauer, Chinese composer Wenhui Xie, and also Amy Beach who left considerable funds to the Colony after her death in 1944. We also hear from Marian MacDowell's biographer, Robin Rausch.
Beach: A Hermit Thrush at Morn, Op. 92 No. 2
Joanne Polk, piano
Wenhui Xie: Sonettia a Orfeo
Alda Caiello, soprano
Maldo Bonifacio, director
Bauer: Viola Sonata (1935)
3rd movement, Allegro
Arnold Steinhardt, viola
Virginia Eskin, piano
Beach: Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, Op.45 (1898-1899)
1st movement, Allegro moderato
Alan Feinberg, piano
Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor
Beach: From Grandmother's Garden, Op.97
Virgin Eskin, piano.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
![]()
H H A (Mrs) Beach
Hermit thrush at morn
Performer: Joanne Polk.- Arabesque: Z6704.
- Arabesque.
- 5.
-
![]()
Wenhui Xie
Sonetti a orfeo
Singer: Alda Caiello. Director: Maldo Bonifacio. -
![]()
Marion Eugene Bauer
Sonata for viola
Performer: Arnold Steinhardt. Performer: Virginia Eskin.- Albany Troy: 297.
- Albany Troy.
- 7.
-
![]()
H H A (Mrs) Beach
Concerto in C sharp minor
Performer: Alan Feinberg. Orchestra: Nashville S O.- NAXOS : 8.559139.
- NAXOS.
- 4.
-
![]()
H H A (Mrs) Beach
From grandmother's garden - morning glory
Performer: Virginia Eskin.- NorthEastern: NR 9004.
- NorthEastern.
- 20.
-
![]()
H H A (Mrs) Beach
From grandmother's garden - Rosemary and Rue
Performer: Virginia Eskin.- NorthEastern: NR 9004.
- NorthEastern.
- 20.
-
![]()
H H A (Mrs) Beach
From grandmother's garden - Honeysuckle
Performer: Virginia Eskin.- NorthEastern: NR 9004.
- NorthEastern.
- 20.
Broadcasts
- Mon 14 Mar 2016 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Mon 14 Mar 2016 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.