John Knowles Paine (Jan. 9, 1839 - April 25, 1906) was an organist and composer born in Maine, to a musical family. HIs grandfather built pipe organs, and his father and uncles were all music teachers. In the 1850s, Paine took organ and compositions with Hermann Kotzschmar, and completed his first composition (a string quartet) in 1855. He was appointed organist of Portland's Haydn Society, and gave recitals to help fund a trip to Europe.Upon arriving in Europe, Paine studied organ with Carl August Haupt, and orchestration with Friedrich Wilhelm Wieprecht. His reputation as an organist grew as he gave recitals throughout Europe.  He returned to the US in 1861, and was appointed Harvard's first University organist and choirmaster. He gave free courses in music appreciation and theory that would become the core curriculum for Harvard's new academic music department, and Paine would become their first music professor. He was a professor there until 1905, only a year before his death.

As a composer, Paine was a part of the Second New England School, more commonly known as he Boston six, along with Amy Beach, George Whitefield Chadwick, Arthur Foote, Edward MacDowell, and Horatio Parker.  He wrote several symphonic works, including the Overture to 'As You Like It'. The works starts quietly with a wistful clarinet solo weaving through the introduction, before the orchestra sets off a little later with gusto and energy.  You can hear some mild influences of Schumann and Liszt on occasion in this exciting work that doesn't seem to take a break; it's a non-stop musical adventure!

Here are some recordings of this work for you to enjoy!

Ulster Orchestra
New York Philharmonic