George Strong (composer)
Encyclopedia
George Templeton Strong was an American
composer
of classical music
. His work has been described as Romantic
. He moved to Vevey, Switzerland in 1897 and lived there and in Geneva
for the remainder of his life. Although his career was in Europe, he is considered an American composer.
to Ellen (Ruggles) and George Templeton Strong
, an attorney. The family was musical; both parents were amateur musicians and his father was on the board of the New York Philharmonic Society. His father was active in the community and helped found the United States Sanitary Commission
during the American Civil War
. Since the 1930s, the senior Strong had been notable for the literary quality of his voluminous diary, which he kept most of his life. With early musical promise, the son was given lessons and training. While the senior Strong hoped his son would follow him in the law, they became reconciled before the father's death. Strong went to Europe for study at the Leipzig Conservatory.
and Richard Hoffmann
at the Leipzig Conservatory
in Germany, together with many European musicians who became prominent in the next decades.
After he returned to the United States, George Templeton Strong began his composing career. In 1897 he moved to Vevey, Switzerland on Lake Geneva
. He taught for a few years at the New England Conservatory of Music
, by invitation of Edward MacDowell
, but returned to Switzerland because of ill health. For the next several years he studied watercolor painting seriously and worked as professional artist. About 1912, he moved to Geneva, where he began to compose music again. He lived in Geneva for the rest of his life and painted seriously for 30 years.
His compositions include (a selected list):
In 1948 Strong died in Geneva, where he had lived for more than 30 years.
In 2002, his orchestral pieces were recorded for the first time and released as two CDs by Naxos: Symphony No. 2 in G minor, opus 50; and La nuit and Le roi Arthur.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. His work has been described as Romantic
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
. He moved to Vevey, Switzerland in 1897 and lived there and in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
for the remainder of his life. Although his career was in Europe, he is considered an American composer.
Early life and education
George Templeton Strong was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Ellen (Ruggles) and George Templeton Strong
George Templeton Strong
George Templeton Strong was an American lawyer and diarist. His 2,250-page diary, discovered in the 1930s, provides a striking personal account of life in the 19th century, especially during the events of the American Civil War...
, an attorney. The family was musical; both parents were amateur musicians and his father was on the board of the New York Philharmonic Society. His father was active in the community and helped found the United States Sanitary Commission
United States Sanitary Commission
The United States Sanitary Commission was a private relief agency created by federal legislation on June 18, 1861, to support sick and wounded soldiers of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. It operated across the North, raised its own funds, and enlisted thousands of volunteers...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Since the 1930s, the senior Strong had been notable for the literary quality of his voluminous diary, which he kept most of his life. With early musical promise, the son was given lessons and training. While the senior Strong hoped his son would follow him in the law, they became reconciled before the father's death. Strong went to Europe for study at the Leipzig Conservatory.
Career
Strong was a pupil of Salomon JadassohnSalomon Jadassohn
Salomon Jadassohn was a German composer and a renowned teacher of piano and composition at the Leipzig Conservatory.-Life:...
and Richard Hoffmann
Richard Hoffmann (composer)
Richard Hoffmann was a United States pianist and composer.-Biography:He came to New York City in his 16th year. He received early instruction from Anton Rubinstein, Franz Liszt, Sigismond Thalberg, Döbler and Meyer...
at the Leipzig Conservatory
Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Theatre
The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig is a public university in Leipzig . Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn as the Conservatory of Music, it is the oldest university school of music in Germany....
in Germany, together with many European musicians who became prominent in the next decades.
After he returned to the United States, George Templeton Strong began his composing career. In 1897 he moved to Vevey, Switzerland on Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
. He taught for a few years at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
, by invitation of Edward MacDowell
Edward MacDowell
Edward Alexander MacDowell was an American composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He was best known for his second piano concerto and his piano suites "Woodland Sketches", "Sea Pieces", and "New England Idylls". "Woodland Sketches" includes his most popular short piece, "To a Wild Rose"...
, but returned to Switzerland because of ill health. For the next several years he studied watercolor painting seriously and worked as professional artist. About 1912, he moved to Geneva, where he began to compose music again. He lived in Geneva for the rest of his life and painted seriously for 30 years.
His compositions include (a selected list):
- Undine, opus 14, symphonic poem
- Three Symphonic Idylls for two pianos, opus 29
- The Haunted Mill, cantata
- Symphony No. 2 in G minorG minorG minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
, opus 50. Dedicated to composer Edward MacDowellEdward MacDowellEdward Alexander MacDowell was an American composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He was best known for his second piano concerto and his piano suites "Woodland Sketches", "Sea Pieces", and "New England Idylls". "Woodland Sketches" includes his most popular short piece, "To a Wild Rose"...
. (premiered 1893) - La nuit. Four brief symphonic poems
- Le roi Arthur, symphonic poem (1916)
- An der See, symphonic poem (lost)
- Elegy for cello and orchestra
- The Life of an Artist for violin and orchestra, dedicated to Joseph SzigetiJoseph SzigetiJoseph Szigeti was a Hungarian violinist.Born into a musical family, he spent his early childhood in a small town in Transylvania. He quickly proved himself to be a child prodigy on the violin, and moved to Budapest with his father to study with the renowned pedagogue Jenő Hubay...
- Hallali for solo horn and orchestra (1923)
- Suite for cello and orchestra (1923)
- Chorale on a theme of Hans Leo Hassler (1929)
- Six pieces for cello and orchestra (1931)
- String Quartet (1935)
In 1948 Strong died in Geneva, where he had lived for more than 30 years.
In 2002, his orchestral pieces were recorded for the first time and released as two CDs by Naxos: Symphony No. 2 in G minor, opus 50; and La nuit and Le roi Arthur.