Though of Swedish parentage, Howard Hanson was one of the first composers to reach international recognition with education solely in America. He did, however, hold fast to his ancestry, stating that Sibelius and Grieg were his two most significant influences. It was, however, as a teacher and conductor that Hanson made his most significant contribution to music. For forty years, from 1924, he was Director of the Eastman School, taking it to a place of world pre-eminence in the field of education and performing excellence. The orchestra related to the college became recognised among the leading ensembles in America, touring to Europe in 1961, and making many critically acclaimed recordings. Hanson had made his conducting debut in 1924 with the New York Symphony Orchestra, and was a regular guest conductor of the Boston Symphony.As a composer he never moved into the mainstream 20th century, preferring to continue in the style of the late-Romantics, melodic inventiveness being the basis of all his works. Considering his high involvement at the Eastman school, he found time to build a sizeable catalogue of music, from opera to instrumental works. Though he was a most prolific and avid champion of American composers, we find little American influence in his own scores.
