Tracing the Spirit of the Early American Symphony

by Joseph Horowitz
15 July 2013

Library of Congress

Note: NPR’s summer project is a “Search for the Great American Symphony.” Joe Horowitz’s contribution deals with the “early history”: Gottschalk, Paine, Dvorak, Chadwick, Beach, Strong, Ives. Horowitz writes:

The accompanying audio tracks include a terrific new recording of Paine’s First by JoAnn Falletta on Naxos–way better than the Zubin Mehta version on New World. I would like to think that this will be noticed and have some impact. NPR is eager to foster discussion–if anyone feels like responding to my various tendentious claims (e.g. that George Templeton Strong composed the most beautiful slow movement of any American symphony; that the New World Symphony is “American”; there are two Great American Symphonies, both by Charles Ives).

• Read the NPR piece HERE.

• Go to NPR Deceptive Cadence blog.