Charles t. griffes biography

Charles Tomlinson Griffes (Elmira, New York, September 17, 1884 – New York City, April 8, 1920) was an Americancomposer for piano, chamber ensembles and for voice.

Musical career

After early studies on piano and organ in his home town, he went to Berlin for four years to study composition with Engelbert Humperdinck at the Stern conservatory.

On returning to the U.S. in 1907 he began teaching at the Hackley School for boys in Tarrytown, New York, a post which he held until his early death 13 years later.

Griffes is the most famous American representative of musical Impressionism.

He was fascinated by the exotic, mysterious sound of the French Impressionists, and was compositionally much influenced by them while he wa