Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1857

Death

:

1944

Genre

:

Ballet

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Edgar Stillman Kelley was an American composer, pianist, and teacher who lived from 1857 to 1944. He was born in Sparta, Wisconsin, to a musical family. His father was a music teacher and his mother was a singer. Kelley showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. He later studied with several prominent teachers, including Carl Baermann and Franz Liszt. Kelley's musical career began in earnest in the 1880s, when he moved to Boston and began performing as a pianist. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled performer and was soon playing in some of the city's most prestigious venues. In addition to his work as a pianist, Kelley also began composing music during this time. His early works were heavily influenced by the Romantic composers of the time, particularly Liszt and Wagner. Kelley's first major success as a composer came in 1893, when his choral work "The Pilgrims" was performed at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The piece was well-received and helped to establish Kelley as a composer of note. Over the next several years, Kelley continued to compose and perform, often collaborating with other musicians and artists. One of Kelley's most significant collaborations was with the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. The two men met in 1895 and quickly became friends. They began working together on a series of songs that set Dunbar's poetry to music. The resulting collection, "In Dahomey," was a huge success and helped to establish Dunbar as one of the most important African American poets of his time. Kelley and Dunbar continued to work together on other projects, including the opera "Dream Lovers," which premiered in 1907. Kelley's music was known for its lush harmonies and rich textures. He often incorporated elements of African American folk music into his compositions, which was unusual for a composer of his time. His works were also notable for their use of chromaticism and unconventional harmonies. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Kelley was also a respected teacher. He taught at several institutions, including the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan. Many of his students went on to have successful careers in music, including the composer Florence Price. Kelley's later years were marked by a decline in his health. He suffered from arthritis and was unable to perform as much as he had in the past. However, he continued to compose and teach until his death in 1944. Today, Kelley is remembered as an important figure in American classical music. His works, particularly his collaborations with Dunbar, helped to establish a distinctly American musical style. His influence can be heard in the works of many later composers, including Aaron Copland and George Gershwin. Despite his contributions to the world of music, Kelley's legacy has often been overlooked. However, in recent years there has been a renewed interest in his music, and his works are once again being performed and recorded.

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