May, Florence
May, Florence
May, Florence, English pianist and writer on music, daughter of Edward Collett May; b. London, Feb. 6, 1845; d. there, June 29, 1923. She studied music with her father and with an uncle, Oliver May; began a promising career as a pianist in London. In 1871 she took lessons with Clara Schumann in Baden-Baden, where she made the acquaintance of Brahms, who gave her some lessons. She became his enthusiastic admirer, and upon her return to England started a vigorous campaign for performances of his music, giving many first performances of his works in London. The important result of her dedication to Brahms was her comprehensive work The Life of Johannes Brahms (2 vols., London, 1905; 2nd ed., 1948). She also pubi. The Girlhood of Clara Schumann (London, 1912).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire