Amy Beach (1867–1944), born Amy Marcy Cheney, was a pioneering American composer and pianist at the turn of the 20th century. Hailed as one of the first successful American female composers of large-scale art music, Beach's career flourished at a time when women in the field were a rarity. A child prodigy, she made her professional piano debut at the remarkably young age of 16.

Beach's musical style was rooted in the Romantic tradition, and she composed works for solo piano, chamber ensembles, orchestras, as well as choral music and art songs. Her Gaelic Symphony, op. 32, broke ground as the first symphony composed and published by an American woman. Over her career, she deftly balanced her roles as a performing pianist and a composer, despite societal expectations that limited women's participation in the professional sphere. A prominent figure in Boston's musical scene, Beach was a member of the Second New England School of composers, also known as the Boston Six. Her compositions, marked by lyrical melodies and rich harmonic textures, have experienced a resurgence in recent years, as scholars and musicians alike seek to celebrate and recognize her contributions to classical music. The pieces you have listed—including "Summer Dreams op.47," "Variations On Balkan Themes," and "Dreaming"—represent a sampling of her expressive and sophisticated repertoire that continues to captivate audiences today.

Genres

American Romanticism

Post-romantic Era

Related Artists

Sergio Monteiro

Henrique Oswald

Domingo Hindoyan

Emile Naoumoff

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Jane Berthe

Duo Gazzana

Konstantia Gourzi

Peter Sculthorpe

Lucerne Festival Strings

Adolphus Hailstork

Pascal Amoyel

Latest Release

Beach: By the Still Waters, Op. 114 (Arr. Lewin for 2 Guitars)

Alexandra Whittingham•

Amy Beach•

Plínio Fernandes

Album - 8 Tracks - Released October 4, 2024