MacDowell: Six Fancies, Opus 7 for the Piano: Piano
By Edward MacDowell / ed. Maurice Hinson
Level: Late Intermediate
Item: 00-PB-0000709
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Description
Edward MacDowell was one of America's first and most important native-born composers. Smaller piano works have enhanced MacDowell's reputation more than any of his other compositions. He was a miniaturist and his small works are naturally imbued with sparkle and a charming romantic atmosphere. This early collection of piano pieces was written while the MacDowells lived in a small cottage outside of Wiesbaden, Germany. Legends, elves and love of nature permeated these character pieces. "An Elfin Round" is a Federation Festivals 2016-2020 selection. A Federation Festivals 2020-2024 selection.
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Sample Audio
1
An Elfin Round
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2
To a Hummingbird
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An Elfin Round
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Sample Video
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Masterwork Edition
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PB-0000709
More about this title
About the Composer: Edward MacDowell
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) stands as one of America's first composers to achieve international recognition while maintaining a distinctly American musical voice. He studied in Paris and Germany, absorbing European Romantic traditions, but his most enduring works grow from his fascination with American landscapes, folklore, and indigenous themes. MacDowell's gift for the miniature form set him apart; his smaller piano pieces reveal a composer of genuine invention and poetic sensitivity rather than grand gesture.
Why we love this
These character pieces sit at the sweet spot where Romantic idiom meets genuine accessibility. MacDowell writes with clarity and melodic charm that engages late intermediate pianists without condescending to them, and the collection's thematic richness (elves, nature, legend) rewards the expressive control these students are developing. "An Elfin Round" alone has proven its worth through repeated Federation selection.
What to expect
Intimate and atmospheric, these fancies transport you to a cottage garden in the German countryside where moonlight catches on water and elves dance through the ferns. MacDowell blends delicate lyricism with harmonic color that feels both accessible and genuinely expressive, balancing technical sparkle with genuine emotional depth.
Who it's for
Late intermediate pianists ready to explore American Romantic repertoire beyond the familiar canon. These pieces suit recital programming, festival preparation (particularly "An Elfin Round"), and students developing musical maturity through character-piece interpretation.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the programmatic titles by listening closely to the natural imagery MacDowell evokes in each piece; let the character guide your tempo and dynamic choices rather than imposing uniformity across the set.
- Pay attention to MacDowell's voice leading in the left hand, which often carries harmonic color as important as the melody; resist the urge to relegate it to pure accompaniment.
- Work the pedal deliberately through these Romantic textures; the sustain pedal shapes atmosphere, but clarity matters in the intimate scale of these pieces.
- Approach the rubato naturally; MacDowell's phrasing often benefits from gentle flexibility rather than metronomic precision, especially in the more lyrical fancies.
How to use it
Feature individual pieces as solo recital selections or program several together to create a Romantic miniatures set. The programmatic nature makes these effective for community recitals or festival performances where a thematic thread enriches the listener's experience beyond the notes themselves.
Skills your students will build
- Pedal control in creating harmonic atmosphere without blurring clarity
- Lyrical phrasing and natural rubato within Romantic idiom
- Voice leading awareness, particularly sustaining inner voices
- Interpreting character pieces through programmatic context
- Articulation precision at moderate tempos with varied textures