Representative women of New England/Ellen B. MacGregor
Ellen Barstow MacGregor, of Portland, Me., the daughter of Gains B. and Mary E. (Barstow) MacGregor, was educated at Temple Grove Seminary, Saratoga, N.Y., where she ranked high as a student. She is now well known as a pianist and composer. She inherited her musical talent from her father's family, who claim some noted musicians of the past. When only two 3'ears of age she committed to memory a number of tunes, and accurately sang them. At the age of five she composed little pieces, which she would play on the piano, giving a left-hand accompaniment, while the remarkable memory for committing music began to develop also. Miss MacGregor has had the benefit of the best instruction in piano playing, harmony, and counterpoint, under Carl Baermann, of Boston, Dudley Buck, of New York, and other leading teachers. Her first compositions of instrumental music were marches, which have received the commendation of Gilmore, Sousa, Jean Missud, and other leading band-masters in this country, who have paid her the high compliment of adapting and ])laying them on important occasions. At the Maine Musical Festival given in Portland in October, 1899, her compositions were played, and received great favor. Of late she has been turning her attention with marked success to song-writing almost exclusively, and numbers among her productions some very taking songs: a lullaby, "We're sailing to Dreamland" (with violin obligato); "My Phyllis"; "The Old Love"; Serenade; "Now and Then"; and "O Lassie, be True to me," a Scottish song for contralto, which has been received most favorably. Of her instrumental music the "Dirigo March," "The Bowdoin," "The Gaiety" (two-step), and the "Colonial Dames Waltzes" are best known. Some of her most recent compositions are: "Little Gems for Little Folks" (a set of eight pieces for piano), and "The Fadette Two-step," dedicated to Caroline Nichols, leader of Fadette Woman's Orchestra.
As a prominent member of the Rossini Club, an organization of Portland ladies, she is identified with the musical interests, not only of Maine, but of all New England. She is a member of the Shubert Concert Company (as pianist and accompanist), and has been a member of the Boston Ideal Quartette (miscellaneous). Miss MacGregor has ixho given a number of musical lecture recitals on famous composers, besides one on " Contemporary Women Composers," and two others entitled respectively " Development of the Opera," and "Formation of the Ballad," all illustrated by music. Her services musically have always been freely given for charity, and few musicians have contributed more liberally of their talent and time than Miss MacGregor.