As 2017 ends, so does the 150th birthday of Amy Beach, a creative force matched by few American composers before or since. There has been tragically but unsurprisingly little fanfare or celebration in her hometown of Boston, and in fact, no major American symphony has programmed any of her pieces this year. Thankfully, though, the rest of the world has not forgotten her. Her "Gaelic" Symphony, in particular, has been widely performed this season and in the past few years, including a performance at this year's Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony.
Several others have already written extensively about her, so I'll let them take it from here. Take a read while you listen to some of her work!
- AmyBeach.com's announcement of her 150th birthday on 5 Sep. 2017 (this website is run by Liane Curtis, President of the Women's Philharmonic Advocacy; shout out to her for her incredible work in many arenas!)
- From the New York Times: "That Beach was famous in her lifetime but ignored today suggests that, even if we live in a more enlightened age..., prejudices still shape the symphonic repertory."
- From Mayor Walsh's declaration of Amy Beach Day: "Whereas Amy Beach was the first American woman to achieve national and international acclaim as a composer... I urge all my fellow Bostonians to join me in recognizing and honoring Amy Beach as one of the most successful American composers."