New England Conservatory of Music - Neume Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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GEORGE W. CHADWICK Director

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In token of our esteem and gratitude we dedicate this class book to Jfreberitfe %. E rotubribge whom we have found to be especially the student ' s friend, broad of vision, large of heart.

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George Whitefield Chadwick Direc tor IX writiiifi tlic life of our rospectod and beloved director we realized that there was a wealth of material from which we might choose the most outstanding features. In this brief outline we have attempted to give only the most important events in Mr. ( ' liadwick ' s life. George Whitefield Chadsvick, eminent com|)oser, conductor, author and educator, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, XovemSer l. ' Jth, IS.l-J. lie attended the Conservatory as a student in the year 1S7 2, studying harmony with Dudley Buck and Stephen A. Emery. He sub.se(|uently had lessons in organ playing and com])osition with PjUgene Thayer. In 1S7() at the age of twenty-two, he went to Olivet College, Michigan, as head of the Musical Department. After a year at Olivet he resigned to go abroad for further study. In Leipzig (1877-1879) his ma.sters were Jadassohn and Reinecke. He com- posed industriously and won much distinction with his two string (piartettes, and an overture on the theme of Ri]) Van Winkle which were performed at the yearly examination. The latter made a marked impression on the Kuro])ean musicians who heard it. Their commendation was re])orted in Boston, and in 1879 the overture was given its first American presentation in Boston at a concert of the Harvard Musical Association. The year 1879-1880 was passed in Munich, studying composition and organ with Jo.seph Rheinberger. After his return from Europe in 1880, he joined the faculty of the Conservatory as a teacher of harmony and com])Osition. In 1897 Mr. Chadwick became Director. During his twenty-seven years of service, the school has grown to be a L niversity of Musical Art. Among his pupils are some of the most eminent American musicians including Dr. Horatio Parker, Ilem-y Iladley, Arthiu ' Whiting, Wallace (ioodrich, Erederick S. Converse, Edward Burlingame Hill, Mal)el Daniels and Daniel (Iregory Mason. Quoting from an article on Mr. Chadwick ' s life in the October 19-24 Musical Qiuirterli — we find the following statements: The appellation ' academic ' fits Mr. Chadwick perfectly, if the term is meant to denote solid scholarship and erudition. — and in another place. The .secret of his success as Director of the Conservatory is found in the following remark, ' The brain and heart are one thing and technic is another. You may cultivate the fingers, the throat, or whate er else is used, but without brain and heart there is no musical education! Yale University in 1897 awarded him the honorary degree of Master of .Vrts and in 190,1 Tufts College bestowed upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. In 1908 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is also a member of the Royal Academy of Elorence. Mr. Cliadwick s genius has been a constant ins])iration to us, and his kindly interest in each of us has been an unfailing guide in our progress. In expressing true loyalty and affection, the ( lass of 192.) unanimously sub- scribes it. self.