Mary Mageau facts for kids
Mary Jane Mageau (born September 4, 1934 – died January 9, 2020) was an American writer, harpsichord player, and composer. She moved to Australia in 1974 and lived there for many years.
She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States. She went to college at DePaul University in Chicago and the University of Michigan. There, she earned a Master of Music degree. In 1974, she moved to Australia for a special teaching job. She married Kenneth White there and became an Australian citizen. Mary Jane was also a strong supporter of women composers, helping them get more chances to share their music.
A famous Australian composer named Larry Sitsky really liked her music. He said that her piece Elite Syncopations was "a most attractive piece." He felt that when he played it, it sounded so good that it was hard to tell if it was by her or by the famous ragtime composer Scott Joplin. Larry Sitsky also said her later music became even more elegant and refined.
Mary Jane Mageau believed that her music should always share something new and meaningful. She wanted her music to connect with both the people playing it and those listening. She felt that music should take each listener on a "satisfying artistic journey."
Mary Jane Mageau passed away in Queensland, Australia, when she was 85 years old.
Awards and Recognitions
Mary Jane Mageau received several awards for her amazing work:
- She won a Silver Medal in the Louis Moreau Gottschalk International Composer's Competition.
- She won the Alienor Harpsichord Concerto Competition for Composers in 1994.
- She received the ASCAP Standard Award every year since 1981.
- She earned a special Commendation at the Vienna Modern Masters First Recording Awards in 1990.
Her Musical Works
Mary Jane Mageau wrote many different kinds of music. Here are some of her selected pieces:
- Triple Concerto for piano trio and orchestra
- Better Way for a choir of high voices with piano
- Ragtime Remembered for a group of five instruments (2001)
- She Is a Cat for a soprano singer and piano (2000)
- Ragtime Remembered for solo piano (2000)
- Contrasts in Continuum for a viola played alone (1968)
- Statement and Variations for solo viola (1979)
- Calls from the Heartland for violin with piano (1995)
- Preludes for Patricia, which are 4 short pieces for 2 violas or a solo viola with a recorded tape (1996)
- Moonlight Reflected on Water for piano played alone (1984)
Her music has been recorded and released on CDs, including the Vienna Modern Masters Music From Six Continents CD Series.
Books and Poetry
Besides music, Mary Jane Mageau also wrote two spiritual books:
- Insights : for an awakening humanity
- A little book of living spiritually
These books were published by Boolarong Press. She also had her poetry published in literary magazines in the United States, Australia, and Canada.
