Jan Swafford

Interlochen Arts Academy students have a unique challenge ahead of them. During the 2025-26 Academy year, they will learn one of the most challenging pieces in the orchestral repertoire: the Symphony no. 4 by Charles Ives. Scholar Jan Swafford visited Interlochen to give the Academy students and faculty an introduction to composer Charles Ives. Regarded as one of the most important of American composers, Ives has been called everything from "iconoclast" to "maverick" with his unique approach to music composition. Ives' music often features complex orchestrations, references to American transcendentalism and a strong sense of the composer's spirituality. The music of Charles Ives is also characterized by his frequent use of musical borrowing, with melodies of hymns, patriotic songs, band music and popular tunes woven into each piece. Pieces by Charles Ives excerpted in this presentation Holiday Quickstep Psalm 67 Symphony no. 1 Symphony no. 1 Decoration Day Symphony no. 4 Ragtime Dance Fourth of July