Maud Powell | |
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 Powell circa 1919 | |
| Born | Minnie Powell (1867-08-22)August 22, 1867 |
| Died | January 8, 1920(1920-01-08) (aged 52) |
| Parent(s) | William Bramwell Powell and Wilhelmina Bengelstraeter |
| Relatives | John Wesley Powell, uncle |
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Minnie "Maud"Powell (August 22, 1867 – January 8, 1920) was an Americanviolinist who gained international acclaim for her skill and virtuosity.[1]
Powell was born inPeru, Illinois. Her mother was Wilhelmina "Minnie"[2] Bengelstraeter Powell, and her father wasWilliam Bramwell Powell. W. B. Powell wrote numerous books[3] such asThe Normal Course of Reading[4] and served as superintendent ofPeru Elementary School District 124 from 1862 to 1870. She was the niece ofJohn Wesley Powell, anAmerican Civil War hero and famed explorer of theGrand Canyon. He made his first scientific exploration of the Colorado River in 1869, when Maud was two years old.[2]
Around the age of 7, she began violin and piano lessons inAurora, located inKane County, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.[5] She was soon recognized as a prodigy and at age 9 began four years of being taken to Chicago for piano study with Agnes Ingersoll and violin study with William Lewis.[6] When she was 13, her parents sold the family home to raise funds to continue her musical education. With her father remaining behind in rented rooms, she traveled with her mother and younger brother William to Europe.[5][6] There she studied underHenry Schradieck at theLeipzig Conservatoire,Charles Dancla at theParis Conservatoire (after placing first in the entrance exam), andJoseph Joachim at theBerlin Hochschule, among others.[5][7] In 1885 she played Bruch'sG minor concerto in her debut with theBerlin Philharmonic under Joachim's baton,[5] and again with theNew York Philharmonic underTheodore Thomas after she returned to the United States.[2][6]
Powell was soloist in the first American performances of theTchaikovsky andSibelius violin concertos and performedDvořák's Violin Concerto on April 7, 1894, with theNew York Philharmonic under the baton ofAnton Seidl inCarnegie Hall under the supervision of the composer. Powell was a powerful advocate for music by Americans, women, and black composers, including the British composerSamuel Coleridge-Taylor, from whom she commissioned a violin concerto. Powell was a committed champion of theSibelius Violin Concerto and was largely responsible for its addition to the repertoire.Max Liebling'sFantasia on Sousa Themes for violin and piano was dedicated to her.[8]
In January 1894, Powell was initiated honorably into musical women's fraternityAlpha Chi Omega.[9]
On October 31, 1916, Powell performed inOttawa, Illinois, on the occasion of the dedication of the Ottawa High School building.
On November 27, 1919, Powell suffered aheart attack on stage inSt. Louis, Missouri.[10][11] On January 8, 1920, Powell died following another heart attack inUniontown, Pennsylvania while on tour.[6]
Powell was the first American violinist to achieve international rank. She was among the first instrumentalists to makeRed Seal records for theVictor Talking Machine Company, starting in 1904 until 1919. With these recordings she set an enduring standard for violin performance.[7]
In 1986, Powell's biographer Karen A. Shaffer founded the Maud Powell Society for Music and Education to further knowledge of Powell and her significant role in music both in the United States and abroad.
In 1995, her home town ofPeru dedicated an 8-foot bronze statue of Powell, sculpted by Joseph Heyd.[12]
In 2007, American violinistRachel Barton Pine released a CD of music transcribed by, commissioned by or dedicated to Maud Powell.[11]
In 2009, Maud Powell Favorites, a 4-volume set of Powell's transcriptions and works commissioned by her or dedicated to her was published by the Maud Powell Society for Music and Education. The music was compiled by Karen A. Shaffer who wrote the extensive historical introduction and annotations while Rachel Barton Pine served as the music editor.[13][14]
Maud Powell was posthumously granted theGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award on January 25, 2014, at the Recording Academy's 2014 Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception. The award was accepted on behalf of Powell by biographer Karen A. Shaffer and Rachel Barton Pine.[15]
Maud Powell, the violinist, died in a hotel here today. She suffered a nervous breakdown yesterday and became so ill that her concert last night was canceled. On Thanksgiving night she collapsed on the stage during her concert in St. Louis. For twenty-four hours she was said to be dangerously ill, but she recovered and continued her tour. The illness was reported as acute gastritis at that time. ...
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