Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

October 20, 1874 in Danbury, CT

Death

:

May 19, 1954 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Charles Ives was an American composer who was born on October 20, 1874, in Danbury, Connecticut. He was the son of George Ives, a bandmaster and music teacher, and Mary Parmelee, a church organist. Ives grew up in a musical household and began playing the piano at a young age. He also played the organ and the violin and was exposed to a wide variety of music, including hymns, marches, and popular songs. Ives attended Yale University, where he studied music and composition. He was a talented student and won several awards for his compositions. After graduating in 1898, he worked as an organist and choir director in various churches in Connecticut and New York. He also worked as an insurance salesman, which allowed him to support himself financially while pursuing his musical career. Ives was a highly original composer who was influenced by a wide range of musical styles, including European classical music, American folk music, and popular music. He was particularly interested in the idea of musical experimentation and often incorporated unconventional techniques into his compositions. For example, he used dissonant harmonies, polyrhythms, and unconventional time signatures in his music. One of Ives's most famous works is his Symphony No. 4, which he began composing in 1910 and completed in 1916. The symphony is a complex and ambitious work that incorporates a wide range of musical styles and techniques. It includes elements of American folk music, hymns, and popular songs, as well as more traditional classical music forms. The symphony is also notable for its use of unconventional instrumentation, including a large percussion section and a choir. Another important work by Ives is his Concord Sonata, which he composed between 1911 and 1915. The sonata is a musical tribute to the writers and philosophers associated with the Transcendentalist movement, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The sonata is divided into four movements, each of which is named after one of the writers. The sonata is notable for its use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of American folk tunes and hymns. Ives's music was not widely recognized during his lifetime, and he struggled to gain recognition as a composer. However, his work had a significant influence on later generations of composers, including Aaron Copland, Elliott Carter, and John Cage. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the most important American composers of the 20th century. Ives died on May 19, 1954, in New York City. His legacy as a composer continues to be celebrated and studied by musicians and music scholars around the world.

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