Classical Composer. A uniquely American composer of classical music, he was of the earliest American classical composers to integrate styles of folk and popular music in the United States into his classical compositions. He was born in Danbury, Connecticut, the son of George Ives, a U.S. Army band leader during the U.S. Civil War. He was one for the first American-born composers to gain recognition for his works in Europe, though unfortunately, it was many years after his death. His music not being played in concert halls in his own lifetime and most others only occasionally performed in smaller venues. Today, Ives is respected as one of the "American Originals" with a style called "The American style," or music composed with American folk tunes quoted within his music. Ives graduated from the Hopkins School in 1893. He then attended Yale University graduating in 1898. While attending Yale, he composed the campaign song for President William McKinley. After graduating from Yale, he worked as an actuarial clerk with the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He started his own insurance agency with a friend Julian W. Myrick called "Ives and Co.," which later became "Ives and Myrick." He enjoyed composing music as a hobby on the side. In 1907, Ives suffered the first of several attacks, most likely "panic attacks" and not heart attacks as some believed, but it was after the first of these he began to compose more intensively. He died in New York City of a stroke in 1954. He wrote 6 symphonies (one is not numbered and the final one was unfinished), Violin and Piano Sonatas, several Overtures, Chamber works (the most famous being called "The Unanswered Question") and well over 100 songs for classically trained voice.

Classical Composer. A uniquely American composer of classical music, he was of the earliest American classical composers to integrate styles of folk and popular music in the United States into his classical compositions. He was born in Danbury, Connecticut, the son of George Ives, a U.S. Army band leader during the U.S. Civil War. He was one for the first American-born composers to gain recognition for his works in Europe, though unfortunately, it was many years after his death. His music not being played in concert halls in his own lifetime and most others only occasionally performed in smaller venues. Today, Ives is respected as one of the "American Originals" with a style called "The American style," or music composed with American folk tunes quoted within his music. Ives graduated from the Hopkins School in 1893. He then attended Yale University graduating in 1898. While attending Yale, he composed the campaign song for President William McKinley. After graduating from Yale, he worked as an actuarial clerk with the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He started his own insurance agency with a friend Julian W. Myrick called "Ives and Co.," which later became "Ives and Myrick." He enjoyed composing music as a hobby on the side. In 1907, Ives suffered the first of several attacks, most likely "panic attacks" and not heart attacks as some believed, but it was after the first of these he began to compose more intensively. He died in New York City of a stroke in 1954. He wrote 6 symphonies (one is not numbered and the final one was unfinished), Violin and Piano Sonatas, several Overtures, Chamber works (the most famous being called "The Unanswered Question") and well over 100 songs for classically trained voice.

Bio by: Christian