Charles Wakefield Cadman: An Overview
Charles Wakefield Cadman (1881–1946) was a prominent American composer who was renowned for his distinctive integration of Native American music and folklore into the classical tradition. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Cadman collaborated extensively with poet Nelle Richmond Eberhart, who provided lyrics for many of his songs and librettos for his operas.
Exploration of American Indian Music
Cadman was one of the first major American composers to seriously study and incorporate Indigenous American themes into his music. His Four American Indian Songs (texts by Eberhart) and other collections drew on melodies and stories that he researched. However, it is worth noting that his early research into Native American music was primarily influenced by the work and recordings of ethnologists Alice Fletcher and Francis La Flesche, who had studied the Omaha Tribe and documented their music and stories. Cadman did make field trips and study tribal melodies, but much of his exposure to Native music came through these prior researchers. The best-known song from this period is “From the Land of Sky-Blue Water,” which quickly achieved popular success.
Opera and Art Song
Cadman’s opera Shanewis (The Robin Woman), premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1918, became the first American opera to play two seasons at that prestigious house. He is also remembered for his song “At Dawning” (1906), a recital favorite, and for his touring lecture-recitals on Indian music with American Indian princess and mezzo-soprano Tsianina Redfeather, which took place in both America and Europe from 1909 to 1923. Other significant stage works include the operatic cantata The Sunset Trail (1925), the opera A Witch of Salem (1926), and The Willow Tree (1931), recognized as the first American opera written for radio broadcast.
Impact on the American Folk Movement
Cadman was a key figure in the early 20th-century American folk music movement, bringing vernacular and Indigenous materials into the world of art song and opera. His approach was influenced by contemporary ethnological interests and an emerging sense of national musical identity in the United States.
Legacy
Cadman’s works, especially his art songs and Indian-themed pieces, continue to be celebrated for their unique blend of classical tradition and Native American folklore. Explore his fascinating works with STAGE+ and let his ethereal music lead you into an enchanting evening, where each note tells a tale of the bygone era and each harmony paints a picture of a beautiful period in American music history. Let the music of Charles Cadman take you on a magical journey, transforming your everyday into an evening of elegance and charm.