From: Chicago, IL. 

 

Education: American Conservatory of Music (BM), DePaul University (MM in Theory and Composition), additional studies at the Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Fontainebleau, Tanglewood

 

Career: Elementary School Teacher in Chicago Public Schools 

 

Highlighted Pieces: Passacaglia in C# minor, Variations on a Theme by MacDowell, Sonata for Violin and Piano, Reminiscence for Violin and Piano

 

Though Irene Britton Smith was a public school teacher by profession, she dedicated much of her time to the study of music and composition. She spent most summers studying to complete her music degrees, and even took a year of sabbatical to pursue studies at Juilliard. Her compositional style is influenced by French composers such as Cesar Franck and Francis Poulenc. 

Irene Britton Smith’s Passacaglia in C# minor consists of 22 variations on a single bass line. Smith blends Baroque form with lush Romantic harmony and thick, organ-like texture in this advanced concert piece. Her other major work for solo piano, Variations on a Theme by MacDowell, showcases a romantic approach to harmony and thematic transformation over the course of 12 variations. Another major work is her Sonata for violin and piano, which notably was the first recorded work of Smith. The sonata is in 3 movements that each have contrasting soulful, singing melodic material with playful scherzo sections. Finally, Reminiscence for violin and piano is a short yet poignant piece that highlights Smith’s skillful melodic writing. Learn more about Irene Britton Smith on our database here!