Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 5, 1853 in Salem, MA

Death

:

April 8, 1937 in Boston, MA

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Arthur Foote was an American composer and teacher who was born on March 5, 1853, in Salem, Massachusetts. He was the youngest of three children born to Henry Wilder Foote and Mary Ann Foote. His father was a prominent lawyer and his mother was a talented pianist who gave Arthur his first music lessons. Foote showed an early interest in music and began composing at a young age. He studied piano with B. J. Lang and composition with John Knowles Paine, both of whom were influential figures in the Boston music scene. In 1874, Foote graduated from Harvard University, where he had studied music and other subjects. After graduation, Foote continued his musical studies in Europe, where he studied with Carl Reinecke in Leipzig and Joachim Raff in Frankfurt. He also traveled to Italy, where he was inspired by the works of Italian composers such as Verdi and Rossini. Foote returned to the United States in 1878 and settled in Boston, where he became an active member of the city's musical community. He taught piano and composition at the New England Conservatory of Music and was a founding member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Foote's compositions were influenced by the German Romantic tradition, as well as by the works of French composers such as Debussy and Ravel. His music was characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and sophisticated use of counterpoint. One of Foote's most famous works is his Suite in E major for string orchestra, which was composed in 1888. The suite consists of four movements, each of which is based on a different dance form. The first movement, a prelude, is followed by a lively gavotte, a graceful minuet, and a lively finale. Foote also composed a number of chamber works, including several string quartets and a piano trio. His Piano Quartet in C minor, composed in 1884, is considered one of his finest works. The quartet is notable for its dramatic intensity and its use of chromatic harmonies. In addition to his work as a composer, Foote was also a respected teacher. He taught at the New England Conservatory of Music for over 40 years and was known for his rigorous approach to musical instruction. Among his students were several prominent composers, including George Whitefield Chadwick and Horatio Parker. Foote's later years were marked by declining health, and he suffered a stroke in 1918 that left him partially paralyzed. Despite his physical limitations, he continued to compose and teach until his death on April 8, 1937. Today, Foote is remembered as one of the leading American composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His music is admired for its beauty, craftsmanship, and emotional depth, and his influence can be heard in the works of many later American composers.

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