Many of William Mason’s earliest published works are born of the grand virtuoso style of the mid-nineteenth century, influenced in part by Liszt, with whom he studied during his training and travel in Europe. Mason’s later works become more modest in scope, replete with the melodic poeticism characteristic in many works of Chopin. Mason carved out an influential reputation as a piano teacher, which occasionally manifests itself in collections of pieces for one piano four hands specifically designed for student/teacher pairings. Mason’s late piano works resemble the more personal and complex idioms of Brahms, Schumann and Fauré. All previous excesses are now stripped away, revealing the true sophistication of the mature master on which modern American pianism could find a native identity.