Amy Beach

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (September 5, 1867 – December 27, 1944) was an American composer and pianist. She was the first successful American female composer of large-scale art music. As a pianist, she made an acclaimed 3-year concert tour of Europe.

Biography

Early years, child prodigy

Amy Marcy Cheney was born in Henniker, New Hampshire into a distinguished New York family. A child prodigy, she was able to sing forty songs accurately by age one; by age two she could improvise a counter-melody to any melody her mother sang; she taught herself to read at age four, and began composing simple waltzes at age five. Amy's mother, being a musician herself, encouraged her daughter with singing and playing the piano for her. Despite this, her family struggled to keep up with her musical interest and demands. Young Amy often commanded what music was to be played and how. She was often prone to fits and tantrums if the music did not meet her demands. In addition, her mother forbade Amy from playing the family piano despite the child's wish to play, believing that indulging her would damage parental authority. Eventually, she began formal piano lessons with her mother at age six, and a year later started giving public recitals, playing works by Handel, Beethoven, and Chopin, as well as her own pieces.