Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 15, 1897 in Walla Walla, WA

Death

:

August 9, 1955 in South Hadley, MA

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Marion Eugenie Bauer was an American composer, teacher, and writer who was born on August 15, 1882, in Walla Walla, Washington. She was the daughter of a German immigrant father and a French-Canadian mother. Her father was a musician and a music teacher, and he introduced her to music at a young age. Bauer showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons when she was six years old. Bauer's family moved to Portland, Oregon, when she was ten years old. She continued her music studies and began composing her own music. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied composition with Ernest Bloch. She graduated in 1909 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. After graduation, Bauer moved to New York City to study composition with Edgar Varèse and Ferruccio Busoni. She also studied piano with Raoul Pugno and composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Bauer was one of the first American composers to study with Boulanger, who was a highly respected teacher of composition. Bauer's early compositions were influenced by the French impressionist composers, such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Her music was characterized by its use of chromaticism, dissonance, and irregular rhythms. She was also interested in incorporating elements of American folk music into her compositions. Bauer's first major work was her Sonata for Violin and Piano, which was premiered in 1918. The piece was well-received and established Bauer as a composer to watch. She continued to compose throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and her music was performed by many of the leading orchestras and chamber ensembles of the time. Bauer was also a prolific writer and music critic. She wrote articles and reviews for many of the leading music publications of the time, including The New York Times, The Musical Quarterly, and The Musical Leader. She was also a regular contributor to the radio program "Music Appreciation Hour," which was broadcast on NBC from 1929 to 1940. Bauer was a strong advocate for the advancement of women in music. She was a founding member of the American Music Guild, which was established in 1921 to promote American music and support American composers. She also served as the president of the National Federation of Music Clubs from 1935 to 1938. Bauer's most famous work is her Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, which was premiered in 1937. The piece is considered a masterpiece of American chamber music and is still performed regularly today. Bauer's other notable works include her String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered in 1923, and her Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1931. Bauer continued to compose and teach throughout her life. She taught at the New York College of Music, the Juilliard School, and Columbia University. She also served as the director of the music department at New York University from 1940 to 1946. Bauer died on March 9, 1955, in New York City. She was 72 years old. Her legacy as a composer, teacher, and advocate for women in music continues to inspire musicians and music lovers today.

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