Amy Marcy Beach was a prominent American composer and pianist, recognized for her contributions to classical music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are 10 interesting facts about her life and work: 1 - Early Prodigy: Born in 1867 as Amy Marcy Cheney in New Hampshire, Beach displayed remarkable musical talent from a young age. She began composing music at the age of four and gave her first public performance at seven.