Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

January 24, 1829 in Boston, MA

Death

:

July 14, 1908 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

William Mason was an American composer, pianist, and educator who was born on January 24, 1829, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Lowell Mason, a prominent music educator and composer, and Abigail Gregory Mason. William Mason grew up in a musical family and received his early musical training from his father. At the age of 14, William Mason made his debut as a pianist in Boston, playing a concerto by Mozart. He continued his studies with his father and also studied with other prominent musicians of the time, including Ignaz Moscheles and Franz Liszt. In 1849, he traveled to Europe to further his musical education and studied in Leipzig with Felix Mendelssohn and in Paris with Frédéric Chopin. Upon his return to the United States in 1851, William Mason began a successful career as a concert pianist, performing throughout the country. He also began composing music, and his works were well received by audiences and critics alike. In 1853, he was appointed professor of music at the University of Michigan, where he taught for six years. In 1859, William Mason moved to New York City, where he continued to perform as a pianist and also became involved in music education. He was appointed director of the New York College of Music in 1865 and held that position for 25 years. He also served as the director of the National Conservatory of Music from 1885 to 1891. As a composer, William Mason wrote music in a variety of genres, including piano music, chamber music, and orchestral works. His most famous composition is his Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, which was premiered in 1864 and quickly became a staple of the piano repertoire. He also wrote several other piano concertos, as well as numerous solo piano pieces. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, William Mason was a respected music educator. He wrote several books on music theory and piano technique, including The Art of Piano Playing and Touch and Technic. He also edited and arranged music for piano, including a popular edition of Beethoven's sonatas. William Mason died on July 14, 1908, in New York City. He was remembered as a talented composer, pianist, and educator who made significant contributions to the development of classical music in the United States. His legacy lives on through his music and his influence on generations of musicians and music educators.

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