Mary Elizabeth Turner Salter

Mary Elizabeth Turner Salter (15 March 1856 – 12 September 1938 ) was an American soprano and composer.

Life

Early life and education Mary Elizabeth Turner was born in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of Jonathan and Mary E. Hinds Turner, who had just moved to the midwest from Maine. After her birth, the Turners moved to Oquwakwa. Turner learned music from both of her parents, who were musically inclined, but it was her mother who gave her initial piano lessons. Turner Salter was also a member of the League of American Pen Women alongside such composers as Amy Beach, Gena Branscombe, and Phyllis Fergus.

Reception and legacy A 1907 review of tenor John Braun's recital in The New York Times described three of her songs as showing "cleverness and brilliancy." A 1930 issue of The Musical Courier noted that Turner Salter was "frequently called one of the foremost song composers of America." Her music was described by D.A. Clippinger, singer and author from Chicago, as being of the highest quality, stating,I often wondered what manner of person it was that had this peculiar gift for vocal writing, who could write songs without dreary spots in them, with no padding, with no evidence that inspiration had run low and mere intellect was at work; songs that had unity and a due sense of proportion, that were a combination of a lovely poem and a fine melody, with just enough accompaniment but never overloaded. One day I discovered the secret—the writer of these songs was a singer.