Matilee Loeb Evans Preston (April 28, 1879 – February 21, 1963)[1] was an American composer and cornetist. She wrote music for piano[2] and was a charter member of the Los Angeles Woman’s Orchestra.[3] She published under the names Matilee Loeb Evans, Matilee Loeb-Evans Preston, and M. L. Preston.
Preston was born in Toledo, Ohio,[4] but grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her earliest music teacher was her father, Leopold Loeb, who had studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. Her first solo performance on cornet was in 1891.[5] She later played cornet with the Los Angeles Women’s Orchestra[6] and studied organ with Frank Harvey Colby.[3]
Preston married Evan G. Evans[6] and they had three children. In 1917, she married J. Clarence Preston.[7]
In 1919, Preston’s letter to Pacific Coast Musician was published: “To my mind it is certainly a great mistake for a girl to discontinue her musical studies after marriage. Home duties, of course, are many and various, especially where there are children in the family, but, by careful planning and conserving of time, a woman can devote some part of each day to the study of music.”[8]
Preston’s compositions were published by Brehm Brothers,[9] Koninsky Music Co.,[10] and Theodore Presser Company.[11]
Piano
edit- A Breath of Lavender: Romance[11]
- Cricket[12]
- Dance of the Bubbles (four hands)[13]
- Dance of the Goblins[14]
- Fairy Prince[15]
- Forget Me Not[16]
- Fragrant Violets Waltz[9]
- Frolic of the Brownies[17]
- Gay Johnny Jump-Up[18]
- Gnomes’ Dress Parade[18]
- Here Comes the Parade (four hands)[19]
- In Sweet Accord[20]
- Longing[21]
- Queen of the Elves[17]
- Old Rose Leaves[22]
- On the Terrace[22]
- Savannah Side Swing Rag Two Step[10]
- Sweet Clover Waltz[23]
- Thistledown[6]
- With Colors Waving: March[12]
- Yellow Butterflies Waltz[24]
External Links
editReferences
edit- ↑ "The Fresno Bee". The Fresno Bee. 22 Feb 1963. p. 8.
- ↑ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music USA. p. 561. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
- 1 2 Gates, W. Francis (1920). Who's who in Music in California. Pacific coast musician.
- ↑ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
- ↑ Osburn, Mary Hubbell (1942). Ohio Composers and Musical Authors. F. J. Heer Printing Company.
- 1 2 3 PSearPianist (2020-06-15). M.L. Preston: Thistledown. Retrieved 2026-04-17 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "San Bernardino News". San Bernardino News. 23 Nov 1917. p. 5.
- ↑ The Pacific Coast Musician. Colby and Pryibil. 1919.
- 1 2 Evans, Matilee Loeb. "Fragrant Violets Waltz". Retrieved 17 Apr 2026.
- 1 2 Loeb-Evans, Matilee (17 Apr 2026). "The Savannah Side-Swing". i.yting.com.
- 1 2 Preston, M. L. (1928). A Breath Of Lavender : Romance. Theodore Presser Co.
- 1 2 Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1947). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
- ↑ The Etude Music Magazine. T. Presser Company. 1930.
- ↑ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1910). Catalog of Copyright Entries.
- ↑ "Fairy Prince, Matilee Loeb-Evans". MOT PIANO. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
- ↑ Loeb-Evans, Matilee (March 1918). "Forget Me Not". The Etude: 170.
- 1 2 Lieurance, Thurlow (1914). Indian songs: Indian flute call and love song. T. Presser.
- 1 2 Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1942.
- ↑ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1928). Catalogue of Title-entries of Books and Other Articles Entered in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, Under the Copyright Law ... Wherein the Copyright Has Been Completed by the Deposit of Two Copies in the Office. U.S. Government Printing Office.
- ↑ "In Sweet Accord, ML Preston". MOT PIANO. Retrieved 2026-04-17.
- ↑ Etude: The Music Magazine. Presser. 1909.
- 1 2 Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series: Maps. Copyright Office, the Library of Congress. 1947.
- ↑ Loeb-Evans, Matilee (June 1920). "Sweet Clover Waltz". The Etude: 402.
- ↑ Loeb-Evans, Matilee (17 Apr 2026). "Yellow Butterflies". digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu.
