MacDowell, Edward: To a wild rose

The American composer and pianist Edward MacDowell (1860–1908) is rather unknown around here, even though he had his artistic roots in here: For he was trained as a pianist in Paris, Stuttgart, Wiesbaden, and Frankfurt. After his return to his home country, he worked as a teacher but was also director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for eight years. During that time (1896) he composed 'Woodland Sketches' Op. 51 which is among the best-known of his piano compositions, especially the opening piece of his musical landscape paintings: 'To a wild rose' which is a simple, yet harmonically spiced melody full of peace and ease, without any technical tricks.