Preston Ware Orem

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Preston Ware Orem (April 20, 1865 – December 20, 1938) was an American composer, pianist, and writer on music. He is frequently grouped with other composers as part of the Indianist movement in American music.[1]

Born in

Theodore Presser, serving as a music critic and editor for the publisher while conducting the Presser Choral Society. From 1901 until 1910 he again worked as an organist, this time at the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church. Orem also wrote theory books, including 1919's Harmony Book for Beginners, and compiled nine books of musical exercises. It is for these that he is chiefly remembered.[2]

As a composer, Orem was less interested than many of his contemporaries in the Indianist movement; still, as it was in fashion, it seems to have held a certain fascination for him. He is numbered among its members mainly because of his American Indian Rhapsody, his most popular work. Originally written for piano, but later scored for full

con brio, from amabile to feroce (the savage!). It is probably the most far-out Indianist composition ever written.[3]

Orem composed other works as well, including a piano quartet, a quintet, large numbers of songs, some works for piano, and numerous transcriptions and arrangements; among the latter is a movement from one of Johann Sebastian Bach's solo cello suites, arranged for organ. Orem died in Philadelphia in 1938.[2]

A handful of Orem's piano works have been recorded by

Naxos Records for release on the Marco Polo label, as part of a series documenting the work of Indianist composers.[4] In addition, the piano version of the American Indian Rhapsody may be found on a New World Records release of American romantic piano music.[3]

Orem was credited by the Summy Company in 1935 with co-authoring the song - Happy Birthday to You.

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Orem, Preston Ware". Preston Ware Orem. Naxos Records. 2008-08-13.
  2. ^ a b "Preston Ware Orem (Composer, Arranger)". Preston Ware Orem. Bach-Cantatas.com. 2008-08-13.
  3. ^ a b "The "Indianist" Movement in American Music" (PDF). BEACH, FOOTE, FARWELL, OREM. New World Records. 2008-08-12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-12.
  4. ^ "American Indianists, vol. 1". Naxos Records. 2008-08-02.

External links

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