4. In Autumn.
5. From an Indian Lodge.
6. To a Water-lily.
7. From Uncle Remus.
8. A Deserted Farm.
9. By a Meadow Brook.
10. Told at Sunset.
These widely known pieces were composed during the last part of MacDowell's residence at Boston, just before he left for New York to take up his duties as professor of music at Columbia University. In these Woodland Sketches we come for the first time to the point at which his pianoforte poems are absolutely responsive to elemental moods, unaffected in style and yet distinguished, free from commonplace, speaking with a personal note that is inimitable. They are, as a whole, mature Nature poems of an exquisite and charming order, beautiful not only for their outward manifestations, but for the deeper significance they give to their sources of inspiration.
1. To a Wild Rose (with simple tenderness). This is one of the most charming and well known of MacDowell's small pieces. It is founded on a simple melody of the Brotherton Indians, and has a poise of the most refined and beautiful order. The composer was always afraid of the less intelligent music lovers "tearing it up by the roots." A vocal arrangement has been made by Herman Hagedorn, but the words are sickly and commonplace in sentiment, and so unnaturally cramped, that the song is artistically worthless.
2. Will o' the Wisp (Swift and light; fancifully). This is a very imaginative piece, full of mysterious and shadowy lightness, and swift of movement. It seems to just float over the keys and in its general effect is fascinating and spirit-like, with dancing little lights flickering in the shadows.