Mary Howe (Carlisle) (April 4, 1882 – September 14, 1964) was an American composer and pianist.

Early life and education

Mary Carlisle was born on April 4, 1882, in Richmond, Virginia, at the home of her maternal grandparents. Her father, Calderon Carlisle, was a well-known and successful lawyer. Carlisle was raised in the Washington, D.C. area. Her early lessons were with the noted pianist Herminie Seron. Carlisle was performing publicly by the time she was 18, when she was accepted into Baltimore's Peabody Institute. During her term there, she began studying with Richard Burmeister, reaching a high level of accomplishment on the piano. She also studied composition with Gustav Strube, Ernest Hutcheson, and Harold Randolph. In 1933, she went to Paris to study with the famous French pianist Nadia Boulanger.

Musical career

As early as 1911, Carlisle started performing with her friend Anne Hull, with one of their most notable performances being of Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos; however, she much preferred composition. Her early compositions were almost exclusively for piano. She notably emulated Neo-romanticism, with an unusually open mind for modernism. She began to develop an interest in themes in nature and American themes, paving the way for some of her most famous orchestral works (which include Sand, Stars, Rock, Three Pieces after Emily Dickinson and "Chain Gang Song" for orchestra and chorus). Her "Chain Gang Song" was especially praised for its lack of femininity; after its first performance, once the chorus and orchestra called her up to bow, a man from the audience praised the conductor for the piece and asked why a woman was bowing with the ensemble. Howe later developed a passion for composing for the voice, writing many art songs. In support of her country during World War II, she composed vigorous pieces in support of the troops which incorporated the texts of William Blake, also written for voice. Howe died in 1964 at the age of 82, ten years after the death of her husband, Walter Bruce Howe. They were survived by their three children, Bruce, Calderon, and Molly.

Works

All pieces published unless otherwise noted.

Choral works

Songs

Orchestral works

Chamber music

Piano music

Organ music

Also transcriptions of works by J. S. Bach for 1 and 2 pianos.

Discography

Citations

Sources