Edward MacDowell was one of the most important American composers of his generation. Trained in Germany and hailed throughout Europe as a virtuoso pianist, his music hardly sounded American, as these six works attest. Often, his works had a Germanic or French or even Norwegian character. Here, a mixture of those influences can be heard in music that is light and fantasy-like. The first of the Edward Idyls, "In the Woods," carries the parenthetical instructions to the performer of "Lightly, almost jauntily." It is light music, to be sure, but not unserious. It has a French, almost Franckian character in its carefree manner, yet also divulges an intimacy of expression: while the music has a jauntiness, it is gentle and demure, having a feline pounce rather than a stomping gait. The ensuing "Siesta," to be played "Slowly, swayingly," is sedate and dreamy and has nothing of Spain in its warm, rather cosmopolitan character. "To the Moonlight," marked "With breadth and tenderness," follows. Not surprisingly, it has a nocturnal manner in its soothing sweetness, although one mild eruption from the bass register occurs in the latter half. The ensuing "Silver Clouds" ("Smoothly, placidly") continues the gentle mood, this time imparting a playful sense of joy, the music oblivious to all woes and frustrations. The fifth, "Flute Idyll" ("Lightly, joyously"), is similar in mood to "Silver Clouds," making one wonder, despite its good music, why MacDowell did not insert it elsewhere and offer some sense of contrast. The concluding "Bluebell" ("Lightly, daintily") has a somewhat wistful quality in its playful music and an engaging fluff in its sweet nonchalance.

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