Charles Ives (1874-1954)

Composer of the Week

Kate Molleson delves into the life and music of the “Yankee Maverick”, Charles Ives.

Charles Ives is considered a leading American composer of the early 20th century. Known for many musical innovations, his was a unique voice, a pioneer who combined elements of Western and American music traditions. He’s also been called a Yankee Maverick and much of his creative life was spent in obscurity. Marking the 150th anniversary since his birth, Kate Molleson shines the spotlight on the life and music of Charles Ives. This journey begins in Danbury where Ives grew up, going on to study at Yale, then working in Insurance in New York, and coming to a close in the mid twentieth century. In those final decades, and largely due to ill health, Ives had stopped composing. Ironically, it was at this point when his creative endeavours had ceased, that his music started to generate much interest.

Music Featured: Memories (excerpt) Four Ragtime Dances for Theatre Orchestra, No 1 (Allegro moderato) String Quartet No 1 ‘From the Salvation Army’ (excerpt) Variations on ‘America’ Psalm 67, God Be Merciful Unto Us Symphony No 1 (excerpt) March No 6, with “Here’s to Good Old Yale” The Circus Band Adeste Fideles Feldeinsamkeit Mists Symphony No 2 (excerpt) Central Park in the Dark The Children’s Hour The Unanswered Question General William Booth Enters into Heaven Tom Sails Away (Three Songs of War) Orchestral Set No 1 ‘Three Places in New England’ (Putnam’s Camp) Sonata for Violin and Piano No 3 (Adagio - Cantabile) Symphony No 4 (excerpt) At the River Serenity Piano Sonata No 2: Concord, Mass., 1840-60 (Thoreau) A Symphony. New England Holidays (excerpt) Two Little Flowers Romanzo di Central Park Violin Sonata No 2 A Christmas Carol Three Quarter Tone Pieces (Allegro) Symphony No 4 (Allegretto) Sunrise Piano Sonata No 2: Concord, Mass., 1840-60 (The Alcotts) Symphony No 3 ‘The Camp Meeting’

Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Charles Ives (1874-1954) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023nw8

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z