MacDowell, "Forgotten Fairy Tales"

[alzado]

I enjoy playing Edward MacDowell.   Some months ago I was able to purchase "Sung Outside the Prince's Door" (Op. 4, No. 1) in a nice edition by Alfred. 

I enjoyed this piece, and wondered about the remainder of this Opus.  Searching the internet, I found a vendor that downloads music.  For a couple of dollars, I was able to download the four pieces in this set.  I may be mistaken, but I do not believe a printed edition of this complete opus is available for purchase.  At least, I did not find one.

It appears this music (Op. 4) was based on a book entitled "Forgotten Fairy Tales."  The book must have taken MacDowell's fancy.  The pieces are lyrical and of only moderate difficulty.

If persons have the time, the internet offers opportunities to locate, purchase, and download selections that may not be in print, or pieces that are rather obscure.

[bench warmer]

I spent some research time trying track down the score of his Second Modern Suite since it sounded so great and I thought (famous last words)  " that doesn't sound too hard ".  There's some seriously difficult stuff in those pages. Many of his Etudes seem easier.
 

[alzado]

First, let's make clear that I am not a gifted or advanced pianist.

That said, Woodland Sketches (Op. 51), is a nice collection that's attainable by most pianists at what could be called the "early advanced" level.

Another great collection is "Sea Pieces" (Op. 55).  Again, at least half or 2/3 of the pieces are playable at the "early advanced" stage.

"New England Idylls" is another collection with some playable material.

There are some traits of MacDowell that one should get used to.  For example, keys such as six flats or six sharps are not that unusual with him.  In a few pieces, it is extraordinary how many double-flats or -sharps he manages to work into a stave of notation.

He on occasion can also go a little bit overboard on leger marks, which -- for me, at least -- cause some very slow progress the first time or two I attempt a piece.

Give this composer a fair chance, and you will enjoy this material!!

PC

[pianistimo]

agreed!  macdowell can be more difficult than he looks - and yet quite easy once the piece/s are mastered.  kind of like schumann.  he writes short concise, descriptive pieces.

[prismsplay]

Many years ago in a used music shop in New York City I purchased a copy of "Forgotten Fairy Tales".

Copyright 1897 by P. L. Jung
Assigned 1899 to Arthur P. Schmidt
Copyright 1925 by Marian MacDowell

There is no reference anywhere in it to "op. 4", an assignment apparently made by someone after 1925.

From this sheet music I made this MIDI transcription of "Sung outside the Prince's door":
https://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza/emfft1.mid
It is an easy piece to play.

For 147 MacDowell piano pieces or movements transcribed into MIDI go to:
https://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza

By taking a tour through these MIDI sequences made from sheet music, it can be noticed that from 1896 on, about half of the pieces in MacDowell's piano suites are fairly easy to play.

Since MacDowell was a concert pianist when he began publishing compositions in 1883, his earlier works for piano were for virtuoso playing. After returning to America in 1888, he gradually developed a simpler, more direct style of expression. Average pianists can really enjoy playing through "Woodland Sketches", "Forgotten Fairy Tales", "Sea Pieces", "Fireside Tales", and "New England Idyls".

[pianistimo]

thank you for posting these.  unfortunately, my headset must not be working right - as i can't hear them yet.

[menancyandsam]

I can't hear any of the midi's also.

[prismsplay]

These comments about not being able to hear my MIDIs are a mystery to me. I hear them on my computer using Windows Media Player. When I try out my site on other people's computers I hear my MIDIs. Listings of the daily hits to my website show that people are clicking on the highligted titles that allow the MIDIs to be played.

A possible explanation for the difficulty might be trying to access the MIDI files indirectly instead of directly through the website they are a part of:

https://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza

[menancyandsam]

Via your web site I tried to listen to your midi's through Firefox & Internet Exployer using Media player & Winamp but don't hear anything.  Tested the speakers...they're ok.

[prismsplay]

  That bothers me. I was thinking that any computer that played MIDI files could play the ones I produced using NoteWorthy Composer software. I know that some people are hearing my files, because they have e-mailed me after hearing some of them, and I can play them from any hotel's online computer with speakers.