Foster, Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins foster was born in Pittsburgh in 1826. He wasnaturally inclined to music and he wrote over one hundred and seventy songs in his short life. He traveled to New Orleans and New York to compose music but still came back to Pittsburgh, where he died in 1864.

Robert Russell Bennett was an American composer, orchestrator and conductor.

Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864) was born in Lawrenceville (now a neighborhood of Pittsburgh) and was a prominent American composer and songwriter. In 1842 he published his song "Open the Lattice, Love." In 1846, S. Foster went to Cincinnati as a bookkeeper, returning to Pittsburgh in 1850 to marry Mary Jane McDowell. In 1849, he entered into a contract with New York publishers. From 1860 he lived in New York City and died there in 1864. Stephen C. Foster left about two hundred songs, for most of which he wrote the words as well as the music. They include ; "My Old Kentucky Home," "Old Folks at Home," and "Oh, Susannah."

Arranged 1977. First performance Grand Forks, North Dakota, 7 October 1977, Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, Jack L. Miller conductor, George Britton soloist.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Epithet: American songwriter

Anadolia originally composed for solo flute or solo violin. Jennie's Own Schottische originally composed for 1st violin or flute, 2nd violin, and bass. Both first published in Foster's The Social Orchestra, Firth, Pond and Company, New York, 1854. This transcription 1954. First performance in this version Washington, D.C. National Gallery Orchestra, Richard Bales conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Originally composed for flute, 2 violins, and bass. First published in Part IV of Foster's Social Orchestra, by Firth, Pond, and Company, New York 1854. This transcription, 1966; first performance Alexandria, Virginia, 3 April 1966, National Gallery Orchestra, Richard Bales conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

The composer's anthology of popular 19th century American and European melodies set as instrumental solos, duets, trios, and quartets, first published 1854. Movements 1, 2 and 4 arranged by Bales 1966. 1 and 2 first performed Washington, D.C., 3 April 1966, National Gallery Orchestra, Richard Bales conductor, William Montgomery flautist. Movement 4 arrangement first performed Alexandria, Virginia, 21 April 1966, string section of National Gallery Orchestra, Richard Bales conductor. Movements 3 and 5 arranged by Bales 1954. First performance of arrangement Washington, D.C., 1954, National Gallery Orchestra, Richard Bales conductor. Movements also available separately; see callno.: 7162, 2390s, 2391s.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Originally composed for the piano, first published 1853. First 4 movements based on Foster's songs of the same names with lyrics by the composer, all first published 1851 except Nelly Bly, first published 1850. Fifth movement of the piano version was called Crane Brake Jig and was an original composition. Foster's transcription for flute, 2 violins, and bass first published in Part IV of Foster's Social Orchestra, Firth, Pond, and Company, New York 1854. Fifth movement retitled Plantation Jig. This transcription with coda added by transcriber, 1966; first performance Alexandria, Virginia, 21 April 1966, string section of the National Gallery Orchestra, Richard Bales conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composer.

Foster, a native of Pennsylvania, began writing and publishing music in the 1840's. In 1851 he entered into an agreement with E. P. Christy, leader of the Christy's Minstrels, which permitted the singers to introduce his compositions in public before publication. According to tradition, Foster's visits to the Rowan family mansion near Bardstown, Federal Hill, inspired the writing of "My Old Kentucky Home." The tune, published in 1853, was later adopted as Kentucky's state song. Foster died in New York in 1864. Marion Foster Welch was Stephen Foster's daughter.