Harvey Worthington Loomis

Full biography Harvey Worthington Loomis

Harvey Worthington Loomis (1865-1930) was an American composer best known for his collaborations with lyricist Josephine McGill ). Together, they composed over 250 songs, many with Native American themes, which were popular in the early 20th century.

Loomis was also part of the Indianist movement, which sought to incorporate Native American culture and music into classical composition. He wrote several pieces with Indian themes, including "Symphony of the Red Man" and "The Song of the White Rose."

In addition to his work as a composer, Loomis was a respected music educator and writer. He taught composition at the Damrosch Institute and wrote a book on music theory called "The Creative Aspect of Music."

Loomis was born in Missouri and began studying music at an early age. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory and later returned to the United States to teach and compose. He died on December 25, 1930, in New York City.

Today, Loomis is not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, but his contributions to American music, especially in the realm of Native American themes, remain significant.