Margaret McClure Stitt facts for kids

Margaret Lorna McClure Stitt (born September 10, 1886 – died December 10, 1979) was a talented American composer, lecturer, and playwright. She wrote many musical pieces, gave talks on different subjects, and created plays. A special moment in her career was in 1936 when some of her music was played at the White House!

Margaret Stitt's Early Life and Musical Journey

Margaret Stitt was born in Rarden, Ohio. When she was just three years old, her mother passed away. She then moved to Locust Grove, Ohio, to live with her mother's family. Margaret's first music lessons were on the organ, taught by her cousin, Philomela Cutter.

In 1904 and 1905, Margaret attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. This is a special school for people who want to study music seriously. There, she learned from teachers like Frederick Hoffman and Sidney Durst. She had to leave school for a while because she hurt her hand. This might have happened from practicing the piano too much or in the wrong way.

After leaving Cincinnati, she taught music in Waverly, Ohio. Then, in 1909, she went back to school at the Indianapolis Conservatory. She studied with Emiliano Renaud and also taught at the school's day program.

Family Life and Creative Work

In October 1912, Margaret married Dr. Howard Stitt. They had three children named Bob, Martha, and Howard. In 1923, the family moved to Vienna, a city in Austria. Dr. Stitt went there to study otolaryngology, which is a type of medicine focused on the ears, nose, and throat. He was also very good at making violins!

After a few years, the family returned to Cincinnati. Margaret became very involved with a theater group at the Cincinnati College of Music. Here, she wrote short operas called operettas and also plays. Margaret was part of many clubs in Cincinnati, including the Cincinnati Woman's Club and the National League of American Pen Women. These clubs helped her meet other writers. She often took their poems and stories and turned them into songs.

Music Performances and Recognition

In 1927, a company called Aeolian included Margaret's song "Lullaby" in their special catalog. This catalog listed music recorded for a type of player piano called the Duo-Art Reproducing Piano.

In 1931, Margaret played the piano for singers at a concert in New York City. They performed many of her songs for the New York Madrigal Society. The Musical Courier, a music magazine, said it was a "well-balanced and interesting program."

A very exciting moment happened in 1936. A part of Margaret's piece called Quintet for Piano and Strings (Soiree) was performed at the White House! It was played for Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady at the time, during a concert by members of the National League of American Pen Women.

A Shift to Lecturing

In 1937, Margaret mostly stopped composing music after a personal loss. After this, she wrote only one more song, "Song for Adele." Instead of composing, she started giving many lectures. She gave 165 talks on 52 different topics! She spoke to many groups, including civic clubs and at the University of Cincinnati. Her talks covered subjects like American music, important moments in medical history, and even the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Margaret Stitt also received several awards. One of her plays won an award from the National League of American Pen Women. The Cincinnati Literary and Musical Society even created a scholarship at the University of Cincinnati in her honor. They also started the Margaret McClure Stitt award for piano students.

Margaret Stitt's Musical Works

Some of Margaret Stitt's musical compositions are kept in a special collection at the University of Pennsylvania Penn Libraries. Her works were published by several companies, including G. Schirmer Inc. Here are some of her published works:

Band Music

• Japinsky March and Two Step

Chamber Music

• Soiree (for a string quartet and piano)

Operas

• one opera
• two operettas for children (operettas are like short, light operas)

Plays

• Mixed Doubles, a Comedy in Three Acts
• Never Too Old: a Farce Comedy in Two Acts
• Patient 309
• Sadie's Oats: a One Act Comedy
• Sharing Christmas: a Musical Program Play

Vocal Music

• "All's Well That Ends Well"
• "Blowing Bubbles" (words by Sarah Grames Clark)
• Choral Grace (for women's chorus)
• "Circus Days" (words by George Elliston)
• "Cock-A-Doodle-Doo" (words by Sarah Grames Clark)
• "From a Trundle Bed" (words by George Elliston)
• "If I - " (words by T. C. O'Donnell)
• "Little Leaves" (for voice, flute, and piano; words by George Elliston)
• "Lullaby"
• "My Gold Balloon"
• "(The) Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe"
• "One Umbrella Built for Two" (words by Sarah Grames Clark)
• "Ophelia" (words by Mabel Ponegate)
• Sharing Christmas: a Musical Program Play
• "Song for Adele" (words by Annette Patton Cornell)
• "Song for Love" (words by Anne Lloyd; melody from Andante Semplice, opus 23 by Peter Tchaikovsky; arranged by Stitt)
• "Songs of Childhood"
• "Spelling Bee" (words by Edna Ann Steward)
• "Ten Songs"
• "Time the Conqueror" (words by George Elliston)
• Twelve Poems (for soprano voice and piano; words by George Elliston)
• "When Love is Here"
• "(The) Yankees Are Coming!"