1838–1882 · United States · Romantic
Alfred Pease was an American pianist and composer of the mid-nineteenth century. He studied in Berlin with several teachers and later performed in the United States as a player of light music and a composer of popular songs. His most celebrated work is considered to be his piano concerto, performed at the World's Fair in Philadelphia in 1876.
Alfred Humphreys Pease was born on 6 May 1838 in Cleveland. He received his early education at Kenyon College, where he belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He then left for Germany to continue his musical training.
In Berlin his teachers were Theodor Kullak for piano, Richard Wüerst for composition and Wilhelm Wieprecht for orchestration. He later went on refining his craft under the guidance of Hans von Bülow.
After returning home, Pease performed regularly and successfully as a pianist: audiences mostly heard him play entertainment-style music and arrangements of opera arias. Songs made up most of his output; the earliest of them, written in 1864, spread across stages in the United States and Europe and was performed by leading musicians of the time.
Several of Pease's orchestral pieces entered the repertoire of conductor Theodore Thomas and were performed by his orchestra in New York and in other American cities, among them works titled "Andante and Scherzo," "Romanze" and "Concerto."
Pease's most significant work is considered to be his piano concerto: in 1876 the composer performed it himself at a concert of American music held as part of the World's Fair in Philadelphia. Pease died on 13 July 1882 in St. Louis.
Pease performed widely as a pianist: his repertoire mostly featured undemanding, easy-to-enjoy pieces and arrangements of opera arias, while what he actually composed were mainly songs, along with several orchestral works that conductor Theodore Thomas included in the programmes of his orchestra. His piano concerto is regarded as his principal work: Pease himself performed it at a concert of American music in 1876.
One of Pease's piano pieces, "Amaryllis," is currently available on the site at an advanced level of difficulty; it is a good place to start exploring his music.