Stephen Foster (jan 1, 1826 – jan 1, 1865)
Description:
Nationality: AmericanFoster taught himself to play several instruments but had no formal composition training. Growing up in Pittsburgh, he heard the music of and was influenced by German, Italian, and Scots-Irish immigrants. He signed a contract with a New York publisher in 1849 and from then on made his living by writing and publicly selling songs, becoming first American to earn a living solely as a composer.
Intermingled Styles
He combined many styles in his parlor songs due to his vast childhood exposure: British ballads, American minstrel songs, German Lieder, Italian opera, and Irish folk songs.
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1826
jan 1, 1865
~ 39 years