Though George Chadwick was one of the most distinguished members of the so-called "Second New England School," his recognition as a composer of some consequence was delayed largely because he liked lighthearted musical subjects in an era when "great" music had to be "serious"—and when many critics simply dismissed "lighthearted" music as "lightweight." Chadwick remedied this perception problem with his very serious Melpomene Overture, named after the Muse of Tragedy. The tragic aspect of the music is generalized rather than specific, atmospheric rather than programmatic. The harmonic language is clearly influenced by Wagner and by Tristan und Isolde in particular.

The overture earned more respect than its equally worthy predecessor, the Thalia Overture (1882), named after the Muse of Comedy: After Melpomene's premiere, the Boston Evening Transcript described it as the "best thing Mr. Chadwick has done."



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