eton, Allison, Byrd, Dowland,
Campion--so one might run on without naming one man who had not
written something the world was better for.

All periods of great art activity are similarly marked by a large
number of geniuses whose ability is not disproved, because
overshadowed by the presence of some titanic contemporary. It would be
a mere impertinence to state such an axiom of art as this, were it not
the plain truth that almost all criticism of contemporaries is based
upon an arrant neglect of it; and if it were not for the fact that I
am about to string out a long, long list of American music-makers
whose ability I think noteworthy,--a list whose length may lead many a
wiseacre to pull a longer face.

Parts of this book have been reprinted from _Godey's Magazine_, the
_Century Magazine_, and the _Criterion_, to whose publishers I am
indebted for permission. For the music reproduced here I have to
thank the publishers whose copyrights were loaned for the occasion.

If the book shall only succeed in arousing in some minds an interest
or a curiosity that shall set them to the study of American music (as
I have studied it, with infinite pleasure), then this fine white paper
and this beautiful black ink will not have been wasted.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

FOREWORD vii

A GENERAL SURVEY 11

THE INNOVATORS 34

THE ACADEMICS 145

THE COLONISTS 267

THE WOMEN COMPOSERS 423

THE FOREIGN COMPOSERS 442

POSTLUDE 447

INDEX 449

LIST OF MUSIC.

PAGE

AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD MACDOWELL 34

"CLAIR DE LUNE," BY EDWARD MACDOWELL 46

AUTOGRAPH OF EDGAR STILLMAN KELLEY 58

"ISRAFEL" (fragment), BY EDGAR STILLMAN KELLEY 74

AUTOGRAPH OF HARVEY WORTHINGTON LOOMIS 77