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Born: March 12, 1887 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: May 16, 1942 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
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The American organist and composer, William M(aag) Felton, attended the public schools and graduated from the Central High School. His father was a talented musician and a well known performer upon the concertina, playing lengthy selections for Wagner, Verdi, Charles Gounod, etc., from memory. Already as a child William M. Felton began making little tunes so that at the age of five he attracted the attention of some musical people. He was placed under the instruction of William C. Schwartz in piano, and H.A. Matthews and Henry Houseley in harmony and composition.
After spending some time as the musical director of one of the largest photo play houses in the USA, William M. Felton resolved to devote all of his time to musical composition. Although still a young man he has some fifty compositions to his credit, many of the most successful being for piano.
William M. Felton's musical inspiration is entirely sane and dwell balanced, without any foolish striving toward ultra-modernism. Consequently, his work grow and develop upon rational lines. His melodies are pleasing and with a natural appeal, and his harmonies are tasteful and well diversified. Among his larger works are the Concert Polonaise and Second Waltz Caprice. Among the smaller characteristic pieces, Twilight in Autumn, Blowing Bubbles and Sunday Morn should be mentioned. Of pieces in lighter vein are his successful marches, The Color Guard and Passing Parade and The Wedding Procession, which is published both for two and four hands. |
