Ives and Griffes

I believe that Charles Ives (1874-1954) is one of the more fascinating composers. Born in Danburry, Connecticut, he grew up studying music with his dad, who was the village band director, and developed a very open mind. He went on to study with Hiratio Parker at Yale, and then became an insurance seller. He never was a professional musician. He viewed music from an entirely different perspective, and when you read his words, it is completely fascinating how he views art. My favorite piece by this composer is Alcotts from the Concord Mass. It is based on the Beethoven 5th symphony motive and expands on it in a truly magnificent and virtuosic way.
Charles Griffis (1884-1920) was also a well known composer of this era. He was a New Yorker and a rebel seeking to break out of tradition. He is responsible for the idea of sensory passiveness (receiving through the senses), and said "There is more to experience in a sunset than in student a Beethoven Sonata". He experienced things instead of creating them in his philosophy. His 3 tone pictures Op. 5 are a great example of this. They are relatively tonal and sensitive pieces, but one can grasp a kind of sensory passiveness throughout the entity.