The Charles Ives Festival

American classic

by Sandor Slomovits

posted 2/1/2007

Charles Ives is unique among major composers. Composing was his avocation, albeit an all-consuming one. His day job was selling life insurance — which he did very successfully: his agency grew to be the largest in America. Ives's decision not to rely on composing for his income gave him the freedom to write music unfettered by conventional tastes.

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