Edward MacDowell: A Great American Tone Poet, His Life and Music

by John Fielder Porte

Composed, Wiesbaden, 1888. First Published, 1894 (J. Hainauer. Revised Edition of Nos. 2 & 3—Arthur P. Schmidt).

1. Prayer.

2. Cradle Hymn.

3. Idyl.

These songs are rather beautiful, and sincerely, although not grandly, inspired. They are probably the least known in America and England of MacDowell's songs, but they do not lack a fine, spiritual outlook.

OPUS 34. TWO SONGS, FOR VOICE AND PIANOFORTE.

Composed, 1888. First Published, 1889 (Arthur P. Schmidt).

1. Menie.

2. My Jean.

These two songs are full of freshness and charm of expression. Menie is a beautiful song; My Jean is, however, the more important of the two, it is inspired and characteristically human in spirit. Neither of these songs, however, can be compared for spontaneous beauty and expression with MacDowell's later groups.