FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Historic Music Rediscovered: Rare 100+ Year-Old Compositions by Will H. Dixon Released on 146th Anniversary of His Birth
NEW YORK, NY – August 29, 2025 – I AM DELIGHTED TO SHARE that the publication of FOUR PIECES FOR PIANO SOLO by Will H. Dixon (1879-1917) this Friday, August 29, on the occasion of the 146th anniversary of Dixon’s birth, thanks to Mr. Lawrence H. Levens for granting access to the autographs and Glendower Jones’s good offices in publishing them under the Recital Publications imprint of Classical Vocal Reprints.
In a significant event for music historians and ragtime enthusiasts, a new offering of over 100-year-old musical compositions by the esteemed and rarely-heard in modern music, American musician, composer, and famed orchestra conductor, Will H. Dixon, has been released today, coinciding with the 146th anniversary of his birth. This collection represents a monumental effort to preserve and present his forgotten works to the modern public.
Dixon, born on August 29, 1879, was a prolific, yet under-recognized, composer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works, which span classical, ragtime, and folk-inspired genres, were thought to be lost or unplayable for decades. The newly available collection features a diverse array of pieces, including solo piano works, contents in this portfolio include “Maxixe de la Gringa” “My Lady” “Oh, Night of Love” and “La Poeme d’amour” that highlight his unique harmonic language and melodic craftsmanship.
The project, spearheaded by the Barnes/Dixon/Myers Historical Papers and Archives, and musicologist John Michael Cooper, involved the painstaking restoration of original manuscripts found in private collections and institutional archives. “We are thrilled to bring Will H. Dixon’s musical legacy to life once again,” said Lawrence H. Levens, lead archivist for the project. “His compositions offer a rare glimpse into a pivotal period of American music, bridging the gap between European traditions and the emerging sounds of the new century. We believe this release will cement his place as a key figure in American musical history.”
The pieces in this volume comprise two maxixes (Brazilian tangos) and two valse lentes (slow waltzes in sweeping, romantic style), and they demonstrate the gifts for infectiously beautiful melody, sensual dance rhythms, and sweeping phrases that brought Dixon international renown in the dawning twentieth century. The volume – the first publication of all four pieces — is available for pre-order here: https://www.classicalvocalrep.com/products/Four-Pieces-for-Piano-Solo-by-Will-H-Dixon-1879-1917-426116.html
About Will H. Dixon:
Will H. Dixon (1879-1917) was an American composer, pianist, and orchestra conductor. He was known for his innovative approach to harmony and his ability to blend diverse musical styles. Though respected by his contemporaries, much of his work fell into obscurity following his death in 1917, the same year as Scott Joplin’s death.
Contact:
Lawrence H. Levens
Custodian and Guardian
lawrencehlevens@gmail.com
(212) 366-5125
Lawrence H. Levens is the lead archivist for the Barnes/Dixon/Myers Historical Papers and Archives, and a passionate preserver of American music history. He helped bring Will H. Dixon’s long-lost compositions to print and serves as custodian of several important musical collections.
