Alicia Van Buren facts for kids

Alicia Keisker Van Buren (born March 5, 1860 – died April 11, 1922) was a talented American woman. She was a composer, which means she wrote music. She was also a singer and a poet, writing beautiful poems.

Early Life and Family

Alicia was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She went to public schools and some private schools there. Later, she married Albert Van Buren. They lived in Louisville and also in a town called Brookline, Massachusetts. During the colder months, they would spend time at their home in Florida.

Albert Van Buren, Alicia's husband, was also interested in art. He was a serious amateur painter. He even studied with a famous artist named Charles Herbert Woodbury, who painted pictures of the sea.

A Creative Circle

In Brookline, the Van Burens were part of a lively group of creative people. They socialized with many artists, writers, and musicians. This included composers like Amy Beach and Helen A. Clarke. They also knew authors such as Abbie Farwell Brown, Margaret Deland, and James Whitcomb Riley. Being around so many creative minds likely inspired Alicia in her own work.

Her Creative Works

Alicia Van Buren's important papers and letters are kept safe at the Schlesinger Library. This shows how important her contributions were. Her music was published by a company called Breitkopf & Haertel. Her books of poetry were published by Richard G. Badger's Gorham Press.

Books of Poetry

Alicia wrote and published two books of poetry:

• As Thought is Led: Lyrics and Sonnets (published in 1904)
• Fireflies: Lyrics and Sonnets (published in 1913)

Music Compositions

She also composed various types of music:

• Chamber Music: She wrote a String Quartet. This is a piece of music for four string instruments, usually two violins, a viola, and a cello.
• Orchestra Music: She composed a piece called "Daffodils: A Tone Poem." A tone poem is a piece of orchestral music that tells a story or describes something, like a poem, but with sounds.
• Vocal Music: Alicia wrote many songs for singers. Some of her songs included:
  • "Afar"
  • Book of Songs (a collection of songs)
  • "Constancy"
  • Five Songs (another collection)
  • "In Early Spring" (using words by the poet William Wordsworth)
  • "June Song"
  • "November" (using words by John Townsend Trowbridge)
  • Six Songs (yet another collection)