Anthony Philip Heinrich was a little-known 19th-century American composer whose life was closely entwined with that of John James Audubon—so much so that he is buried with the Audubon family in New York City. One persona was the “American Woodsman”; the other persona, the “Beethoven of America.” Heinrich’s music, like Audubon’s art, drew inspiration from the wilderness and wild birds of the continent. Recently, new examples of Heinrich’s work have come to light, including one specifically dedicated to Audubon. Using images provided by Audubon and music by Heinrich, Fred Baumgarten, a former staff member of the National Audubon Society and its resident expert on John James Audubon, will share this astonishing connection between an obscure 19th-century composer and Audubon, and what it tells us about antebellum culture in America.
