At the time of his death in 1935 Charles Martin Loeffler was one of the most highly respected composers in America. He had been a fixture in Boston’s musical life since 1882 when he came there as assistant concertmaster of the fledgling Boston Symphony Orchestra. As his interest in composition grew his name began appearing on BSO programmes in that capacity. In addition to Boston, his orchestral works were performed by the orchestras of London, Berlin, Paris, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago. Performances of these pieces were conducted by Mahler, Richard Strauss, Monteux, Koussevitzky, Nikisch, Stokowski, Reiner and Rodzinski, among many others. Within a decade after Loeffler’s death performances of his music dwindled almost to nothing; musical fashion had shifted to embrace a more contemporary style. It is reassuring to see that many years later musicians are rediscovering the rich legacy of Loeffler’s music and bringing it once again before the public.
- Bruce Gbur