Price: $250.00 |
FINE CONDITION |
Autographed postcard photograph of the Bank of England and Royal Exchange from the Mansion House with a two bar musical quotation of the opening of the composer, conductor and pianist’s 3rd Symphony in C minor “The Scandinavian”, February, 1904. We offer with a half length vintage postcard portrait of the composer.
Cowen (1852-1935) born Cohen came into the world on the island of Jamaica. His father was a musical administrator and after the family moved to London, he was appointed Treasurer of Her Majesties Opera. His father’s position allowed the young Cowen to hear music regularly. A child prodigy, he published his first work, a waltz at 6 and completed his first operetta, “Garibaldi” with his older sister’s libretto at the age of 8. He studied piano with Julius Benedict and composition with organist John Goss, who also taught Sullivan, Bridge and Stainer. His debut as a concert pianist took place in a recital at the age of 11 at Her Majesties Theatre in 1863. His father became private secretary to the Earl of Dudley who had a large concert hall in his home and the young Cowen gave a further recital at Dudley House the following year with Joseph Joachim and
His 3rd Symphony in C minor, known as “The Scandinavian” was composed and first performed in England in 1880 and put him on the international map. For about a decade, the symphony in four moments which lasts around 39 minutes was regularly programmed internationally. He followed up with two more symphonies, one in 1884 and the other in 1887. While he continued to write for large orchestral ensembles in mainly suites, his fame after the turn of the Century moved to popular and art songs; over 300! The press nicknamed him the British Schubert!
Great autograph of a once popular symphony with fine examples of the work on YouTube. |
FREDERICK HYMEN COWEN - COMPOSER |
Phone: 212-860-5541 * Fax: 917-677-8247
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