Second New England School
Encyclopedia
The Second New England School, or sometimes specifically the Boston Six, is a hypothetical group of classical music composers who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in New England
, a northeastern region of the United States of America. They were particularly based in and around the city of Boston
, Massachusetts
, which was an emerging musical center. The Second New England School is viewed by musicologists as pivotal in the development of an American classical idiom that stands apart from its European ancestors.
The Second New England School did not function as a bonafide organization. Since individuals did not view themselves as members of the school, its 'membership' can only be approximated by musicologists who draw aesthetic and philosophical links between composers. The Cambridge History of American Music, for example, lists composers who were associated with New England educational institutions. The list includes John Knowles Paine
(1839-1906), Arthur Foote
(1853-1937), George Chadwick (1854-1931), and Amy Beach
(1867-1944). Additional sources will include Edward MacDowell
(1861-1908), George Whiting
(1861-1944), Horatio Parker
(1863-1919), and others.
John Knowles Paine
, who served as the first Professor of Music at Harvard University
, was considered as the leading compositional authority during his lifetime and, unofficially, the leader of this group. Paine held seniority in age and experience over most of his colleagues.
During the Second New England School's years of prominence, American musical education was still in its infancy. Americans often learned musical theory and composition in Europe
or from European musicians who had emigrated to the United States
. As a result, large portions of American classical music written at the time reflects European influences, especially from Germany
. Although America lagged in composition, in the second half of the 20th century the country developed permanent and robust opera and symphonic organizations and exceeded Europe in quality of piano manufacture and piano ownership per capita. Members of the Second New England School are credited with steering American classical music in new directions that led to the work of internationally-known figures such as Aaron Copland
, Samuel Barber
, William Schuman
, and Leonard Bernstein
.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, a northeastern region of the United States of America. They were particularly based in and around the city of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, which was an emerging musical center. The Second New England School is viewed by musicologists as pivotal in the development of an American classical idiom that stands apart from its European ancestors.
The Second New England School did not function as a bonafide organization. Since individuals did not view themselves as members of the school, its 'membership' can only be approximated by musicologists who draw aesthetic and philosophical links between composers. The Cambridge History of American Music, for example, lists composers who were associated with New England educational institutions. The list includes John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine , was the first American-born composer to achieve fame for large-scale orchestral music.-Life:He studied organ, orchestration, and composition in Germany and toured in Europe for three years...
(1839-1906), Arthur Foote
Arthur Foote
Arthur William Foote was an American classical composer, and a member of the "Boston Six." The other five were George Whitefield Chadwick, Amy Beach, Edward MacDowell, John Knowles Paine, and Horatio Parker.The modern tendency is to view Foote’s music as “Romantic” and “European” in light of the...
(1853-1937), George Chadwick (1854-1931), and Amy Beach
Amy Beach
Amy Marcy Cheney Beach was an American composer and pianist. She was the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music. Most of her compositions and performances were under the name Mrs. H.H.A. Beach.-Early years:Beach was born Amy Marcy Cheney in Henniker, New Hampshire into...
(1867-1944). Additional sources will include Edward MacDowell
Edward MacDowell
Edward Alexander MacDowell was an American composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He was best known for his second piano concerto and his piano suites "Woodland Sketches", "Sea Pieces", and "New England Idylls". "Woodland Sketches" includes his most popular short piece, "To a Wild Rose"...
(1861-1908), George Whiting
George Whiting
George Elbridge Whiting was an American composer of classical music.-Early life and career:Born in Holliston, Massachusetts, he founded the Beethoven Society in Hartford, Connecticut when he was fifteen years old. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1862 and later to New York City. Whiting was a...
(1861-1944), Horatio Parker
Horatio Parker
Horatio William Parker was an American composer, organist and teacher. He was a central figure in musical life in New Haven, Connecticut in the late 19th century, and is best remembered as the teacher of Charles Ives....
(1863-1919), and others.
John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine , was the first American-born composer to achieve fame for large-scale orchestral music.-Life:He studied organ, orchestration, and composition in Germany and toured in Europe for three years...
, who served as the first Professor of Music at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, was considered as the leading compositional authority during his lifetime and, unofficially, the leader of this group. Paine held seniority in age and experience over most of his colleagues.
During the Second New England School's years of prominence, American musical education was still in its infancy. Americans often learned musical theory and composition in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
or from European musicians who had emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As a result, large portions of American classical music written at the time reflects European influences, especially from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Although America lagged in composition, in the second half of the 20th century the country developed permanent and robust opera and symphonic organizations and exceeded Europe in quality of piano manufacture and piano ownership per capita. Members of the Second New England School are credited with steering American classical music in new directions that led to the work of internationally-known figures such as Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
, Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
, William Schuman
William Schuman
William Howard Schuman was an American composer and music administrator.-Life:Born in Manhattan in New York City to Samuel and Rachel Schuman, Schuman was named after the twenty-seventh U.S. president, William Howard Taft, although his family preferred to call him Bill...
, and Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
.