Edward Joseph Collins

Short bio Edward Joseph Collins

Birthday: 1886 in Joliet, IL

Died: 1951 in Chicago, IL

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography Edward Joseph Collins

Edward Joseph Collins (November 10 , 1886 – December 1, 1951) was a pianist, conductor, and composer of classical music in a neoromantic style. He was an important figure in the Chicago music scene in the early 20th century and was a prolific composer, with more than 200 works to his name, including orchestral works, chamber music, and songs.

Collins was born in Joliet, Illinois, and showed a talent for music at an early age. He began piano lessons at the age of six and made his public debut as a pianist at the age of nine. He later studied at the Chicago Musical College and the American Conservatory of Music before receiving further training in Europe.

Collins' music was deeply rooted in the romantic tradition, featuring lush melodies, rich harmonies, and expressive emotional content. Some of his most notable works include his Symphonies No. 1 and 2, his Piano Concerto, and his Violin Concerto. He was also known for his songs, many of which were settings of poems by contemporary poets.

In addition to his work as a composer, Collins was a noted conductor and pianist. He worked as a conductor with several orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He was also the music director of the Chicago Women's Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Little Symphony, and was a frequent performer as a solo pianist.

Despite his successes as a composer and performer, Collins' music is not as well-known today as that of some of his contemporaries. However, his work is still performed occasionally and is recognized as an important contribution to the American classical music tradition.

Compositions featuring Edward Joseph Collins

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Valse eccentrique, for piano	3:40 min	Keyboard	1949
2	All God's Chillun' Got Wings for piano	2:16 min	Keyboard	1948
3	Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jericho, for piano	2:55 min	Keyboard	1947
4	The Gospel Train, for piano	2:01 min	Keyboard	1947
5	Cowboy's Breakdown, for orchestra	2:16 min	Orchestral	1944
6	Prayer for C.H.S., song for voice & piano	2:28 min	Vocal Music	1944
7	Song and Suds, song for voice & piano	2:04 min	Vocal Music	1943
8	Piano Concerto No. 3 in B minor	39:09 min	Concerto	1942
9	A Piper, song for voice & piano	1:44 min	Vocal Music	1942
10	Lament and Jig (No. 6 for 'Variations on an American Folk-song', various composers), for orchestra	1:58 min	Orchestral	1941
11	The Daffodils, song for voice & piano	3:06 min	Vocal Music	1940
12	The 5:48, for piano	2:19 min	Keyboard	1940
13	Annabel Lee, song for voice & piano	3:39 min	Vocal Music	1940
14	Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel? for piano	2:16 min	Keyboard	1940
15	Lil' David Play on Yo' harp for piano	3:56 min	Keyboard	1940
16	Again the Year Has Come to the Spring, for voice & piano (or orchestra	5:16 min	Vocal Music	1939
17	Cowboy's Breakdown for piano	2:25 min	Keyboard	1938
18	Nocturne, for piano	5:45 min	Keyboard	1936
19	Tango for piano	3:58 min	Keyboard	1935
20	Allegro Piacevole, for string quartet in D minor	7:29 min	Chamber Music	1935
21	The Fog, song for voice & piano	2:00 min	Vocal Music	1934
22	Suite for cello & piano	28:05 min	Chamber Music	1933
23	Valse Elegante, for orchestra	3:16 min	Orchestral	1933
24	Arabesque, for violin & piano	4:06 min	Chamber Music	1933
25	The Pines, song for voice & piano	2:43 min	Vocal Music	1932
26	Variations on an Irish Folksong, for orchestra	17:54 min	Orchestral	1932
27	Concert Piece for piano & orchestra in A minor	20:49 min	Concerto	1931
28	Etude, for piano	2:48 min	Keyboard	1930
29	Variations on a Irish Tune for piano	15:21 min	Keyboard	1930
30	The Wooded Lake, song for voice & piano	2:46 min	Vocal Music	193?
31	Passacaglia for piano	2:34 min	Keyboard	193?
32	Hibernia (Irish Rhapsody), for large orchestra	15:11 min	Orchestral	1929
33	Symphony in B minor ("Nos habebit humus")	35:27 min	Symphony	1929
34	Hymn to the Earth, for soloists, chorus & orchestra	36:41 min	Choral	1929
35	The Bayadère, song for voice & piano	2:08 min	Vocal Music	1928
36	Magdalene, song for voice & piano	5:12 min	Vocal Music	1928
37	The Masque of the Red Death, ballet-suite for orchestra	25:28 min	Orchestral	1926
38	Set of Four, for orchestra	18:50 min	Orchestral	1924
39	A Tragic Overture	14:07 min	Orchestral	1923
40	Mardi Gras, for orchestra	15:11 min	Orchestral	1923
41	Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 1 ("Geronimo")	34:36 min	Chamber Music	1921
42	Music When Soft Voices Die, song for voice & piano	1:50 min	Vocal Music	1921
43	Death of the Leaves, song for voice & piano	3:27 min	Vocal Music	1920
44	To a Little Child, song for voice & piano (also titled "To a Sleeping Child" [1931] and "Lullaby" [1920])	2:41 min	Vocal Music	1920
45	The Faded Violet, song for voice & piano (also titled To a Faded Violet [1919] and Elegy [1938])	2:53 min	Vocal Music	1919
46	Waltzes (6) for piano, Op. 18	13:38 min	Keyboard	1919
47	Butterflies, song for voice & piano	1:04 min	Vocal Music	1919
48	June Night, for voice & piano	2:13 min	Vocal Music	1917
49	Waltzes (4), for piano, Op. 15	8:48 min	Keyboard	1913
50	Prayer, version for cello & piano	2:31 min	Chamber Music	19??
51	Who Can Tell?, operetta		Opera	-
52	Technical Stunts (6) in Canonic Form, for piano	5:59 min	Keyboard	-
53	Variations on an Irish Theme, for piano	13:07 min	Keyboard	-
54	Variations on a Negro Theme, for piano	12:58 min	Keyboard	-
55	Canons, for piano	4:27 min	Keyboard	-
56	Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 1 in E flat major	29:36 min	Concerto	-
57	Daughter of the South, opera	74:57 min	Opera	-
58	Frédéric François, for piano	2:36 min	Keyboard	-
59	Sonata for violin & piano, Op. 2/14		Chamber Music	-

Albums featuring Edward Joseph Collins

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	John Harmon (2), Edward Joseph Collins, Royal Scottish National Orchestra And Choir, Marin Alsop – Earth Day Heritage: A Celebration In Music And Words(CD, Album)	2021	Albany Records
2	Edward Joseph Collins, Frank Almond, Elizabeth Buccheri, Parry Karp, Patrice Michaels, Jeffrey Sykes – Music Of Edward Joseph Collins Volume V: Arabesque, Songs, Prayer, Suite For Violincello And Piano(CD, Stereo)	2004	Albany Records
3	Edward Joseph Collins, Royal Scottish National Orchestra – Music Of Edward Joseph Collins Volume Vi(CD, Stereo)	2004	Albany Records
4	Edward Joseph Collins - William Wolfram, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop – Concerto No. 3 • Symphony ("Nos Habebit Humus")(CD, )	2003	Albany Records
5	Edward Joseph Collins, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop – Music Of Edward Joseph Collins Volume Iv: Hibernia (irish Rhapsody)(CD, Stereo)	2003	Music Of Edward Joseph Collins
6	Orchestral Music(CD, Album)	1997	Albany Records
7	Edward Joseph Collins - Earl Wild • The Manhattan String Quartet – Romantic Music Of Edward Joseph Collins(CD, Album)	1992	Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI)
8	Concert Piece For Piano And Orchestra In A Minor(LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo)	1977	Not On Label
9	Edward Joseph Collins, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Marin Alsop – Music Of Edward Joseph Collins(CD, Stereo)	-	Albany Records