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Mary Gabriel Whitney was an American composer of classical music who lived from 1903 to 1995. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a family of musicians. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged her to pursue music from a young age. Whitney began studying piano and composition at the age of six, and by the time she was a teenager, she was already composing her own works. She attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied composition with George Whitefield Chadwick and piano with Carl Faelten. After graduating from the conservatory, Whitney moved to New York City to pursue a career as a composer. She quickly established herself as a rising talent in the classical music world, and her works were performed by some of the leading orchestras and ensembles of the day. One of Whitney's early successes was her Piano Concerto, which was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1929. The piece was praised for its lyrical melodies and virtuosic piano writing, and it helped establish Whitney as a composer to watch. Over the next several years, Whitney continued to compose works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Her music was characterized by its lush harmonies, expressive melodies, and sophisticated use of counterpoint. One of Whitney's most famous works is her Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1935. The piece is notable for its sweeping melodies and dramatic contrasts, and it remains a staple of the orchestral repertoire to this day. In addition to her orchestral works, Whitney also composed a number of chamber music pieces, including string quartets, sonatas, and trios. These works were often more intimate in scale than her orchestral pieces, but they were no less expressive or complex. One of Whitney's most beloved chamber works is her String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered in 1941. The piece is notable for its intricate counterpoint and rich harmonies, and it has been praised for its emotional depth and technical virtuosity. Throughout her career, Whitney was also a dedicated teacher and mentor to young composers. She taught at a number of institutions, including the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music, and she was known for her rigorous but supportive approach to teaching. Whitney's influence on the classical music world was significant, and her works continue to be performed and studied today. She was a pioneer in the field of American classical music, and her contributions to the genre will be remembered for generations to come.

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