Wa-Wan Press

Wa-Wan Press

The Wa-Wan Press was an American music publishing company founded in 1901 by composer Arthur Farwell in Newton Center, Massachusetts. The firm concentrated on publishing compositions by so-called Indianist movement members—composers who incorporated traditional Native American music into their works. Although it never achieved its founder's intentions of fomenting a classical musical revolution in the United States, the company saw success during its short 11-year history before being acquired and abandoned by G. Schirmer in 1912.

History

Farwell was inspired by Antonín Dvořák's embracing of folk music; during Dvořák's 1890s stint at the National Conservatory of Music, the Czech called for American composers to develop a uniquely American style of classical music.Daniels, Valerie (June 2002). " [http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA02/daniels/curtis/musicale.html Selling the North American Indian: The Work of Edward Curtis: A Vanishing Race] ". Retrieved on March 6 2007.] During Farwell's own brief foray into academia at Cornell University (1899-1901), he started composing short pieces based on Native American melodies. After leaving Cornell and settling in Newton Center, he fleshed out a compilation of "American Indian Melodies". His search for a publisher of the work was unsuccessful, and, as a result, he founded Wa-Wan Press in 1901.The Library of Congress (February 1 2007). " [http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200035729/default.html Biography: Arthur Farwell, 1872-1952: The Library of Congress Presents: Music, Theater and Dance] ". Retrieved on March 6 2007.] The name "Wa-Wan", which means "to sing to someone", was chosen to honor one of the traditional ceremonies of the Omaha.Culbertson, Evelyn Davis (Summer 1987). "Arthur Farwell's Early Efforts on Behalf of American Music, 1889-1921". "American Music", Vol. 5, No. 2. pp. 156-175.]

The press was launched without financial backing, and operated out of the Farwell family home; its only employees were Farwell and his father, George. Its first issue in 1901 contained Farwell's "American Indian Melodies" and two works by Edgar Stillman Kelley. Farwell hoped that the creation of the Wa-Wan Press would hail the beginning of a classical music revolution that would rebel against what he deemed a German "domination" of the nation's music. The American public, he believed, "saw everything through German glasses", and "a revolt against this domination was an absolute historical necessity".

For the first five years, the Wa-Wan Press published two books per quarter—one vocal and one instrumental—at an annual subscription rate of eight dollars. Subscriptions continued to grow, and in 1907, the company began printing monthly.Marroco, W. Thomas and Jacobs, Mark. "Wa-Wan Press". [http://www.grovemusic.com/ Grove Music Online] (subscription required). ed. L. Macy. Retrieved on March 5, 2007.] That same year, Farwell founded the Wa-Wan Society for the "advancement of the work of American composers, and the interests of the musical life of the American people." The Wa-Wan Press later began publishing compositions in sheet music form. Farwell provided introductions, program notes, and essays to accompany the aesthetic volumes, whose covers and typographical innovations were often designed by himself. Farwell took particular pride in his work, noting later that many publishers adapted his ideas.

In 1908, the firm started losing subscriptions and ran into financial troubles. By 1912, Farwell's enthusiasm for the press had waned, and he had become chief Boston-area music critic for "Musical America". He agreed to the take-over of Wa-Wan Press by G. Schirmer, which soon abandoned the project." [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/composer/farwell.html IHAS: Composer: ARTHUR FARWELL] ". PBS. Retrieved on March 6 2007.] During its 11-year history, the press had published 37 composers (nine of whom were women), including Carlos Troyer, Rubin Goldmark, and Henry F. Gilbert. In 1970, Arno Press and the "New York Times" resurrected the press' publications by issuing a complete, five-volume reprint with Vera Brodsky Lawrence as editor.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wan Chai — is a metropolitan area situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong, China. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south.… …   Wikipedia

  • Wan Rong — Emperatriz de China (1922 1924) Emperatriz de Manchukuo (1934 1945) Nombre real Gobulo Wan Rong 郭布羅·婉容 Nacimiento …   Wikipedia Español

  • Wan Laiming — Wan Lai Ming (zh tsp|t=萬籟鳴|s=万籁鸣|p=Wàn Làimíng; January 18, 1900 October 7, 1997) was born in Nanjing, China. He was one of the Wan brothers who pioneered the Chinese animation industry, and became China s first animator. As the director of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Wan Kuok-koi — (尹國駒; Cantonese: Wan Gwok keui; Mandarin: Yǐn Guójū), popularly known as Broken Tooth Koi (崩牙駒; Cantonese: bang nga keui; Mandarin: bēng yá jū) was, until his arrest, the leader of the Macau branch of the 14K Triad. Background Wan had a tough… …   Wikipedia

  • Wan Yanhai — (zh cp|c=万延海|p=Wàn Yánhǎi) is the best known AIDS activist in China. His frank and aggressive approach toward AIDS have led to frequent run ins with authorities and landed him in detention three times in the past 12 years. Wan, 43, is the… …   Wikipedia

  • Wan Rong — Infobox Monarch|royal|consort name =Empress Xiao Ke Min title =Empress of China Empress of the Manchurian Empire spouse =Emperor Puyi consortreign =1908 1912 father =Rong Yuan mother = date of birth = birth date|1906|11|13 date of death = death… …   Wikipedia

  • Wan Li — Infobox Officeholder name = Wan Li 万里 萬里 imagesize = 200px small caption = order = office = 5th Chairman of the NPCSC term start = April 13, 1988 term end = March 27, 1993 predecessor = Peng Zhen successor = Qiao Shi order1 = 4th Executive Vice… …   Wikipedia

  • Wan Fo Hsia — Die Yulin Grotten (chin. 榆林窟, Yulin ku, engl. Yulin Grottoes / Ten Thousand Buddha Gorge / Caves of the Myriad Buddhas) 75 km südwestlich von Anxi (安西县), d. h. dem heutigen Kreis Guazhou (瓜州县), Provinz Gansu, China, sind buddhistische… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Wan Fo xia — Die Yulin Grotten (chin. 榆林窟, Yulin ku, engl. Yulin Grottoes / Ten Thousand Buddha Gorge / Caves of the Myriad Buddhas) 75 km südwestlich von Anxi (安西县), d. h. dem heutigen Kreis Guazhou (瓜州县), Provinz Gansu, China, sind buddhistische… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Madame Sul-Te-Wan — Infobox Actor name = Madame Sul Te Wan birthname = Nellie Crawford birthdate = birth date|1873|3|7 birthplace = Louisville, Kentucky deathdate = death date and age|1959|2|1|1873|3|7 deathplace = Hollywood, California yearsactive = 1915 1958… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”