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What are the Things Least Known about the Man Behind IMSLP Ives

The creator of 150 masterpieces, the Yankee maverick Charles Ives is the musical sensation of America until now. Even today, the American artists sought him as an inspiration.

The creator of 150 masterpieces, the Yankee maverick Charles Ives is the musical sensation of America until now. Even today, the American artists sought him as an inspiration. His music was an unusual expression of optimism, idealism, and democratic fierceness that reflected the American’s voice. This musical art by him was uniquely combined with European classical music. Like a jingle, but not actually a jingle; instead, his art form is like a collective uproar of a small town. Sometimes, it gave off the peaceful vibe of a church. Or you can call it a mixture of both. 

The better term for his style would be democratic art. All of this uniqueness and unusual beauty of his art form contributed greatly to the significance of IMSLP Ives. 

Rare Facts about Charles Ives whose Creations form Part of IMSLP Ives

IMSLP Ives is truly an inspiration. For music learners, it is a way to explore the democratic way of musical art and move forward to spiritual music creation. The greatest achievement a musician can find! Are you curious to know about the person who is behind the IMSLP Ives before actually starting to learn it? Then, continue reading. 

1. His Introduction to Music

As per Charles Ives, his first introduction to music dates back to the time when he was only five years old, playing alone when his father (George Ive) returned home. George Ive saw his son banging out his drum parts on the piano, using his fists. Anyone could have expected a correction or an angry rebuke. But what happened completely transformed the career of little Charles. 

His father told him, “It’s all right to do that, Charles, if you know what you’re doing”, and his next action was to send the five-year-old to the drum lessons. Who knew that this action by George Ives would lead his son to create works that would become a part of IMSLP, alongside other legendaries like IMSLP Mozart?

2. The Spiritual Maturity of Music

George Ives has been a Civil War band leader for a very long time. This made him acknowledge the profound impact of sentimental tunes such as “Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground”, “Aura Lee”, etc. Sentiments that surrounded the circumstances of war, the soldier's memories, and other experiences. He gave Charles Ives the most significant advice on musical life, which helped his son strive in the musical realm. 

Charles Ives recounts that his father once told him, "Look into his face and hear the music of the ages. Don't pay too much attention to the sounds--for if you do, you may miss the music. You won't get a wild, heroic ride to heaven on pretty little sounds." This upbringing made him inclined more towards spiritual music creation packed with profound emotions like church sheet music.

3. At Yales

Yale at the Hopkins Grammar School became a new musical ambition for Charles when he left Danbury for New Haven in 1893. Having mastered conventional short works compositions and sophisticated his personal experiments, he looked forward to greater control of the orchestra. What he wanted was a more refined musical structure such as a Church sheet music that he had never been taught about by his father. 

With added lessons and practice, he passed the Yale entrance exam and began his studies with the chairman of the college’s new Music Department as his professor. The chairman was recognized as the finest composition teacher in the US at that time. 

3. The Freshman Musician

The professor might have restricted some of his experiments. However, that distant, demanding, and conservative teacher helped him to master the shaping forces of music. Ultimately, the four years with the music teacher were a success. He might have received D’s in other subjects, but his music ambitions soared high with a B in music. 


Also, the great popularity he enjoyed in college through various clubs was something to cherish for life. In that same college, as a freshman, he got a job as the highest-paid organ player, and many more successes awaited him in the future, ultimately contributing to IMSLP Ives. 

Church Sheet Music, IMSLP Ives, IMSLP Mozart & More; Free Download!

Charles Ives is an inspiration when the conversation comes to legendary composers of all time. His democratic art form took over the whole of America over their heels to get access to the records by him. After years of leading musical journeys, when he left the stage, he gifted 150 songs to the world that got recorded in IMSLP Ives. The freshers can learn from his records and continue their musical journey. Are you a music freshman seeking to download records like IMSLP Mozart, IMSLP Ives, etc.? 

Free Sheet Music International offers you a library of legendary musical records that you can easily download for free! All you need is to type the name of the art or artist and start searching. So, what are you waiting for? Start downloading now!


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