Elna Sherman facts for kids

Daisy Elna Sherman (born October 12, 1888 – died September 1964) was a very talented American woman. She was a composer, which means she wrote music. She was also a musicologist, someone who studies music history and research. On top of that, she was a teacher. Daisy Sherman had a special interest in the famous writer Thomas Hardy.

Early Life and Education

Daisy Sherman was born in Massachusetts. Her mother, Alice M. Fairchild, was also a music teacher and composer. Daisy followed in her mother's footsteps. She earned two degrees from the Institute of Musical Art. This is a very famous music school. She also studied with well-known teachers like Helen Hopekirk. Daisy even traveled to London to continue her music studies.

Teaching and Research

After her studies, Daisy Sherman became a music teacher. She taught at the Institute of Musical Art. She also taught at the Boston University College of Music. Daisy was very interested in the life and work of writer Thomas Hardy. In 1936, she had a special chance to interview Hardy's second wife, Florence Dugdale. Florence told Daisy that Thomas Hardy had always wanted to be a musician. This was an important discovery for Daisy's research!

Music Groups and Publications

Daisy Sherman was an active member of several important music organizations. She belonged to The American Composers Alliance in New York. She was also part of the Musical Association in London. Another group she joined was the Society of Women Musicians. Her musical compositions and writings were published by well-known companies. These included Associated Music Publishers, Oxford University Press, and E. C. Schirmer.

Her Written Works

Daisy Sherman wrote several articles about music. These articles showed her deep knowledge of music history.

• Music in Thomas Hardy’s Life and Work (published in Musical Quarterly, October 1940). This article explored how music was important in the life and stories of Thomas Hardy.
• Ravenscroft’s Psalter, 1621; and Its Place in the Early New England Scene (published in Bulletin of the American Musicological Society, September 1948). This writing was about old church music from the 1600s.
• Thomas Hardy: Lyricist, Symphonist (published in Music & Letters, April 1940). This article looked at Thomas Hardy's work through a musical lens.

Her Music Compositions

Daisy Sherman composed different types of music.

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments.

• For an Oriental Bazaar (for three recorders).
• Sonata Lyrica (for clarinet and piano; it was first written for viola and piano).
• St. Francis and the Birds (for three recorders, cello, and harpsichord).
• Ten Anglo-American Folksongs and Ballads (for two recorders).
• Three Dance Movements (for five recorders; Daisy edited these pieces by Antony Holborne and Robert Parsons).
• Wessex Tune Book vol 1 & 2 (for descant recorder and piano; Daisy arranged these tunes that were compiled by James Hook).

Piano Music

Daisy also wrote music for the piano.

• Country Wedding

Vocal Music

She composed songs for singers.

• “Evening Song, opus 36”
• “Yuletide in a Younger World”