In this combination of feminine tenderness with masculine strength he was, as in his creative gift, a man of genius.

After one of his concerts I wrote in the glow of enthusiasm that I would rather hear him than any pianist in the field excepting Paderewski; that utterance I never saw reason to modify." For an interesting and closely observed description of MacDowell's technical peculiarities as a piano player I am indebted to his friend and pupil, Mr.T.P.Currier, who had followed MacDowell's career as a pianist from the time of his first public appearance in Boston: "[His finger velocity] was at that time [in 1888] the most striking characteristic of his playing," says Mr.Currier.

"For him, too, it was a mere bagatelle.

He took to prestissimo like a duck to water.

He could, in fact, play fast more easily than he could slowly.