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This section provides information about American composers from the 19thcentury, such as Stephen Foster, and 20th century, such as Aaron Copland (shown in photo at left).
We live in a time when celebritiy status is given more emphasis on recordings and live performances.
That means the interpreters (the singers, instrumentalists, and conductors) often get more attention than the creators (the composers).
This is an unfair situation that needs a more balanced approach.
Over the past fifty years or so, most of the attention has been paid to only a small number of American composers from the 20th century who might be called...
"The American Five"
Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Charles Ives
While these five composers are all worthy of great respect and admiration, there are also lesser known composers from earlier times that are worthy of more attention.
Three of these less well known American composers are:
George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931)
Edwin Arthur Jones (1853-1911)
George Templeton Strong (1856-1948)
Among classical record labels, there is a tendency to pay attention to only a few well known American composers, like Copland or Ives. One of the few exceptions is Naxos Records with their excellent American music series.
One way to help correct this deficiency is to encourage research and performances of lesser known American music in colleges, universities and music schools.
Another way is to distribute information, such as on this web site.
One of the neglected areas now receiving more attention is film music. For more information on this subject, go to
Film Composers and Soundtracks
See also the list of rare music and interviews with classical composers
available at theAmerican Music Recordings Collection [AMRC]
If you have researched or performed music by a lesser known American composer from the past and would like to submit a short essay or announcement,
click on this link:
Recommended For Your Bookshelf...
AND THEY ALL SANG: ADVENTURES OF AN ECLECTIC DISC JOCKEY by Studs Terkel
FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: INVITATIONS TO LISTENING by Michael Steinberg and Larry Rothel
GEORGE GERSHWIN: HIS LIFE AND WORK by Howard Pollack
A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC: SONGS AND SCORES by Roger Hall
HITCHCOCK'S MUSIC by Jack Sullivan
THE REST IS NOISE: LISTENING TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY by Alex Ross
Web Submissions
CD Review: SERENADA SCHIZOPHRANA (Danny Elfman)
Essay: The Vanishing American Composer
AMP Links
American Music Recordings Collection [AMRC]
Favorite American Composers (Web Poll)
Film Music Review (online magazine)
New England Music Archive (NEMA)
Help support the mission of
American Music Preservation.com
Use this handy Search for your purchases...
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