Silas Gamaliel Pratt (August 4, 1846 – October 30, 1916) was an American composer. A native of Addison, Vermont, he worked in Chicago, New York, and Pittsburgh, in addition to studies and travels in Germany. Between 1868 and 1871, he studied under Theodor Kullak, among others, but he suffered a wrist injury during a lesson, which prevented his becoming a professional concert pianist. On a later trip to Germany, following a performance of Pratt's works, Franz Liszt gave him encouragement and advice.
Pratt is known to have completed at least three operas, one of which he later revised; only two were ever performed. His musical allegory, The Triumph of Columbus, was composed for the quadricentennial of Columbus's discovery of the New World, and was performed at Carnegie Hall on 10 October 1892. Among his other compositions was a symphony about the sinking of the Titanic, completed in June 1913. He was also the first composer to set "America the Beautiful".
Pratt is known to have taught piano for a time in Joliet, Illinois. In 1895, he was appointed principal of the West End School of Music in New York. He later moved to Pittsburgh, and established the Pratt Institute of Music and Art in 1906; he served as the Institute's president until his death in 1916. He was buried in Chicago.
Pratt is said to have once met Richard Wagner, who called him the "Richard Wagner of the United States"; reportedly, Pratt then responded that Wagner was "the Silas G. Pratt of Germany".
Other writings by Pratt include a book entitled Lincoln in story : the life of the martyr-president told in authenticated anecdotes, published by Appleton in 1901.[1]Upton[2] mentions 2 symphonies by an S.G. Pratt (a standard abbreviation of Pratt's name) – "No. 1, E minor (1870); No. 2, A major (The Prodigal Son) (1875)" (dates may be of composition, performance or publication.)
Operasedit
Antonio (selections performed, written 1870–71)
Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra (1882)
Lucille (revision of Antonio) (1887)
Ollanta (unperformed)
Referencesedit
^Lincoln in story : the life of the martyr-president told in authenticated anecdotes. OCLC 293153198. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
^Upton, George Putnam. (1889) The standard symphonies, their history, their music, and their composers; a handbook. page 315. Chicago: A.C. McClurg and Co. See books.google.com/books?id=RZgqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA315 . Retrieved November 16, 2013.
USOperaweb
Account of the meeting with Wagner 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine
Information on America the Beautiful
Necrologist's report
Robert Stevenson. "Pratt, Silas G". In L. Macy (ed.). . Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
silas, pratt, silas, gamaliel, pratt, august, 1846, october, 1916, american, composer, native, addison, vermont, worked, chicago, york, pittsburgh, addition, studies, travels, germany, between, 1868, 1871, studied, under, theodor, kullak, among, others, suffer. Silas Gamaliel Pratt August 4 1846 October 30 1916 was an American composer A native of Addison Vermont he worked in Chicago New York and Pittsburgh in addition to studies and travels in Germany Between 1868 and 1871 he studied under Theodor Kullak among others but he suffered a wrist injury during a lesson which prevented his becoming a professional concert pianist On a later trip to Germany following a performance of Pratt s works Franz Liszt gave him encouragement and advice Silas Gamaliel PrattBorn 1846 08 04 August 4 1846Addison VermontDiedOctober 30 1916 1916 10 30 aged 70 PittsburghResting placeChicagoPratt is known to have completed at least three operas one of which he later revised only two were ever performed His musical allegory The Triumph of Columbus was composed for the quadricentennial of Columbus s discovery of the New World and was performed at Carnegie Hall on 10 October 1892 Among his other compositions was a symphony about the sinking of the Titanic completed in June 1913 He was also the first composer to set America the Beautiful Pratt is known to have taught piano for a time in Joliet Illinois In 1895 he was appointed principal of the West End School of Music in New York He later moved to Pittsburgh and established the Pratt Institute of Music and Art in 1906 he served as the Institute s president until his death in 1916 He was buried in Chicago Pratt is said to have once met Richard Wagner who called him the Richard Wagner of the United States reportedly Pratt then responded that Wagner was the Silas G Pratt of Germany Other writings by Pratt include a book entitled Lincoln in story the life of the martyr president told in authenticated anecdotes published by Appleton in 1901 1 Upton 2 mentions 2 symphonies by an S G Pratt a standard abbreviation of Pratt s name No 1 E minor 1870 No 2 A major The Prodigal Son 1875 dates may be of composition performance or publication Operas editAntonio selections performed written 1870 71 Zenobia Queen of Palmyra 1882 Lucille revision of Antonio 1887 Ollanta unperformed References edit Lincoln in story the life of the martyr president told in authenticated anecdotes OCLC 293153198 Retrieved July 25 2011 Upton George Putnam 1889 The standard symphonies their history their music and their composers a handbook page 315 Chicago A C McClurg and Co See books google com books id RZgqAAAAYAAJ amp pg PA315 Retrieved November 16 2013 USOperaweb Account of the meeting with Wagner Archived 2007 03 12 at the Wayback Machine Information on America the Beautiful Necrologist s report Robert Stevenson Pratt Silas G In L Macy ed Grove Music Online Archived from the original on 2008 05 16 Retrieved 2006 06 30 External links editFree scores by Silas G Pratt at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP This article about a United States composer born in the 19th century is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silas G Pratt amp oldid 1173976079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
