Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

November 10, 1886 in Joliet, IL

Death

:

December 7, 1951 in Chicago, IL

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Edward Joseph Collins was an American composer and pianist who was born on September 10, 1886, in Joliet, Illinois. He was the youngest of six children born to Irish immigrants, and his father was a railroad worker. Collins showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He received his first formal music lessons from his older sister, who was a music teacher. Collins continued his music education at the Chicago Musical College, where he studied piano with Rudolph Ganz and composition with Felix Borowski. He graduated in 1908 and went on to study in Europe, first in Berlin with Ferruccio Busoni and then in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He also studied with Vincent d'Indy at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. Collins returned to the United States in 1912 and began a career as a concert pianist and composer. He performed extensively throughout the country and was known for his virtuosic piano playing. He also began to receive commissions for his compositions, which were performed by leading orchestras and chamber ensembles. Collins' music was influenced by the European modernist movement, particularly the works of Debussy and Ravel. He was also interested in incorporating elements of American folk music into his compositions. His early works, such as the Piano Sonata No. 1 (1912) and the String Quartet No. 1 (1914), show the influence of Debussy and the impressionists. During World War I, Collins served in the U.S. Army as a bandmaster. He continued to compose during his service and wrote several patriotic works, including the march "The Spirit of America" (1918). After the war, he returned to his career as a composer and pianist. In the 1920s, Collins' music began to show a greater interest in American folk music. He wrote several works based on folk tunes, including the "American Rhapsody" for orchestra (1923) and the "Three Folk Dances" for piano (1925). He also wrote several works for piano and orchestra, including the "Concerto in D minor" (1926) and the "Concerto in F minor" (1929). Collins' music continued to evolve in the 1930s and 1940s. He began to incorporate elements of jazz into his compositions, particularly in his piano works. He also wrote several works for chamber ensembles, including the "String Quartet No. 2" (1931) and the "Woodwind Quintet" (1942). One of Collins' most famous works is the "Sonata for Violin and Piano" (1945), which was commissioned by the violinist Jascha Heifetz. The work is a virtuosic showcase for both instruments and has become a staple of the violin repertoire. Collins continued to compose and perform throughout his life. He was a professor of music at the University of Southern California from 1935 to 1951 and also taught at the Juilliard School in New York. He died on December 4, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. In conclusion, Edward Joseph Collins was an important American composer and pianist who was influenced by the European modernist movement and American folk music. His compositions show a wide range of styles and influences, from impressionism to jazz. He was also a virtuosic pianist and performed extensively throughout his career.

More....