Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 1 - 10 of 14Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Jean Sibelius

1865 - 1957 Composer of "FINLANDIA" in Psalter Hymnal (Gray) Johann Julius Christian [Jean] Sibelius DM Finland 1865-1957. Born at Hameenlinna, Finland, the son of a Swedish-speaking medical doctor, he lost his father to typhoid in 1868, leaving the family in substantial debt. His mother, again pregnant, had to sell their property and move in with her widowed mother. His aunt Julia gave him piano lessons when he was seven on the family upright piano, wrapping him on the knuckles when he played a wrong note. He learned to improvise as he played. His uncle, Pehr Ferdinand Sibelius, was interested in music, especially the violin, and gave Jean a violin when he was 10. As his musical advisor his uncle encouraged him to play and compose music. He played music with sister on piano, brother on cello, and himself on violin. He attended a Finnish-speaking prep school in 1874 and continued his education at the Hameenlinna Normal Lyceum thereafter. Jean also showed a strong interest in nature, frequently walking around the countryside when the family moved to the Loviisa coast for the summer months. In 1881 he took violin lessons from the local bandmaster, and developed a strong interest in violin. He became an accomplished player, and thought of becoming a virtuoso, but realizing he began study too late in life for that, instead opted to compose. He often played music in quartets with neighboring families, adding to his chamber music experience. He took the French form of his name, Jean. He studied law at the Imperial Alexander University in Finland, but showed far more interest in music. He then studied music at the Helsinki Music Institute (now Sibelius Academy) from 1885-1889. The school’s founder, Martin Wegelius, did much to support education development in Finland and gave Sibelius his first lessons in composition. Another teacher,,Ferruccio Busoni, a pianist-composer, helped him as well and became a life-long friend. Other friends, pianist Adolf Paul, and conductor-to-be, Armas Jarnefelt, also helped him. In 1892 he married Armas ‘s sister, Aino Jarnefelt, daughter of General Alexander Jarnefelt, governor of Vaasa. They had six daughters, Eva, Ruth, Kirsti, Katarina, Margareta, and Heidi. He continued his musical studies in Berlin (1889-1890) with Albert Becker, and in Vienna (1890-1891) with Robert Fuchs and Karl Goldmark. In Berlin he had opportunity to attend concerts and operas. In Vienna he turned to orchestral composition and had much success, although he had gallstone surgery during that period. He also traveled to the UK, France, Germany, and the USA during this time in his life, composing, conducting, and socializing. In 1892 he took on teaching assignments at the Music Institute and at Kajanus’s conducting school, but this left him with little time for composing. Sibelius’ works were more and more appreciated in Helsinki concert halls as he composed and conducted symphonies in the mid-1890s. In 1898 he was awarded a substantial grant, initially for 10 years, and later extended for life, allowing him to concentrate on composition. Much of his music became popular in Finland and in Germany. In 1899 he began work on his first symphony. It went well, but other patriotic music hehad composed did even better, since Russia was trying to restrict the powers of the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1900 Sibelius went on an international tour with Kajanus and his orchestra, presenting his recent works. In 1901 he wrote his second symphony, which received rave reviews. He continued to compose as he became popular and well-known. In 1903 he had a new home built near Lake Tuusula north of Helsinki, calleed Ainola (after his wife). He gave concerts in and around Finland, spending more and more time away from home, to the chagrin of his wife. After a time he returned home and composed from there. He spent much time wining and dining in Helsinki, and it had a disastrous effect on his wife, who finally entered a sanitorium. He resolved again to give up drinking and concentrate on composing his 3rd symphony. He met Gustav Mahler in Helsinki and they became friends. He performed his 3rd symphony in St Petersburg, Russia. In 1907 he underwent a serious operation for suspected throat cancer, and spent time in the hospital in 1908. His smoking and drinking had now become life-threatening. He cancelled concerts for Rome, Warsaw, and Berlin, but kept one in London. His health deteriorated further, And his brush with death inspired him to compose his 4th symphony. In 1909 his successful throat operation resulted in renewed happiness for him and his wife, Aino. He continued conducting concerts, and met Claude Debussy, who further encouraged his musical efforts. He began working on his 4th symphony in 1910, but had to write other music to compensate for dwindling funds. He finished his 4th symphony in Berlin and conducted concerts in Sweden in 1911. In 1912 he completed short orchestral works. Over the next several years he continued producing a variety of pieces of music, well-received, especially in America. He was given an honorary DM degree from Yale University and also another from the University of Helsinki about the same time. WW1 interrupted his music royalties in 1915, and he was forced to compose smaller works for publication to make ends meet. He completed his 5th symphony at age 50, but he was dissatisfied with it and reworked it three times In 1917 he starting drinking again, triggering arguments with his wife. The Russian Revolution in 1917 caused an improvement in their personal relationship, and he wrote his ‘Jager March’ to celebrate Finnish independence from Russia. The next year the Finnish Civil War began, putting a damper on his march. In 1919, after the war, he completed his 6th symphony. In 1920 George Eastman , of Eastman Kodak, asked him to teach for a year in New York, but he declined. He did enjoy a trip conducting several concerts in England in 1921. He premiered his 6th symphony in 1923. In 1924 he completed his 7th symphony. The next year he composed a number of small pieces. He began drinking again. He did write a few more major works, but for the last thirty years of his life he avoided publicly talking about his music. He tried to write an 8th symphony, but was unsatisfied with it and burned the scores. In fact, he burned a laundry basket full of music he had written, to the chagrin of his wife. But, afterward, he became calmer and gradually had a lighter mood. In 1935 he was awarded the Goethe-Metal, with a certificate signed by Adolf Hitler. A Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939 was repelled, but Finland gave up territory to Russia as a result. In 1941 Sibelius and his wife returned to their Finland home, Ainola, after a long absence. He did not compose much the last few years, and died at Ainola. His wife outlived him by 12 years. John Perry

Henry Thomas Smart

1813 - 1879 Person Name: Henry Smart, 1813-1879 Composer of "TRANSFIGURATION" in The Riverdale Hymn Book Henry Smart (b. Marylebone, London, England, 1813; d. Hampstead, London, 1879), a capable composer of church music who wrote some very fine hymn tunes (REGENT SQUARE, 354, is the best-known). Smart gave up a career in the legal profession for one in music. Although largely self taught, he became proficient in organ playing and composition, and he was a music teacher and critic. Organist in a number of London churches, including St. Luke's, Old Street (1844-1864), and St. Pancras (1864-1869), Smart was famous for his extemporizations and for his accompaniment of congregational singing. He became completely blind at the age of fifty-two, but his remarkable memory enabled him to continue playing the organ. Fascinated by organs as a youth, Smart designed organs for important places such as St. Andrew Hall in Glasgow and the Town Hall in Leeds. He composed an opera, oratorios, part-songs, some instrumental music, and many hymn tunes, as well as a large number of works for organ and choir. He edited the Choralebook (1858), the English Presbyterian Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (1867), and the Scottish Presbyterian Hymnal (1875). Some of his hymn tunes were first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861). Bert Polman

Anonymous

Author of "I Sought the Lord, and Afterward I Knew" in Psalter Hymnal (Gray) In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries.

Josiah Booth

1852 - 1930 Person Name: Josiah Booth, (1852- ) Composer of "TRANQUILLITY" in Hymns for the Living Age Josiah Booth (27 March 1852 – 29 December 1929) was an English organist and composer, known chiefly for his hymn-tunes. See also in: Wikipedia

G. W. Chadwick

1854 - 1931 Person Name: George W. Chadwick Composer of "PEACE" in Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) Educator, administrator, organist, conductor, and principal composer of the Second New England School, whose members also included John Knowles Paine, Horatio Parker, and Amy Marcy Beach, George W. Chadwick taught several generations of American musicians at the New England Conservatory, and came to be regarded as the standard bearer of the Yankee academic tradition in music. Born in Lowell, MA. on November 13, 1854, Chadwick studied organ with his older brother and used his earnings as an organist to finance the musical studies which his father opposed. After leaving high school in 1872, he clerked for a brief time in his father's insurance office while studying with Dudley Buck and Eugene Thayer at the New England Conservatory. Upon graduation in 1876 he accepted an appointment as a music instructor at Mt. Olivet College in Michigan and founded the Music Teachers National Association. In 1877 Chadwick embarked on the pilgrimage which was considered de rigeur for American musicians; he sailed for Germany to study in Leipzig and Munich with such famous pedagogues as Rheinberger. His RIP VAN WINKLE OVERTURE, composed abroad to an American theme, won him some early notice, and before returning to the States in 1880, he tasted a bit of the bohemian life by tramping the Continent with a group of avant garde artists and writers called the Duvenek Boys. New England Conservatory From 1877 to his appointment to the Directorship of the New England Conservatory in 1897, Chadwick built his career as a Boston teacher, organist, and composer. Among his celebrated pupils were Horatio Parker, who, in turn taught Charles Ives, Daniel Gregory Mason, and Frederick Shepherd Converse. Chadwick's compositional style has been dubbed "Boston Classicism." Though there is a distinct academic foundation to his music, his works also reflect a certain Yankee bluntness and retain the hints of his colorful vagabond days. In his mature period to which his powerful verismo opera, THE PADRONE, and his lyric drama, JUDITH, belong, Chadwick's music makes significant strides in freeing the American idiom from the German conservatory style. Sensitive, also, to indigenous influences, Chadwick made use of African-American song, Anglo-American psalmody, and folk idioms in his symphonic compositions. His 137 songs for solo voice and piano reflect a deep-seated interest in contemporary poetry in a Romantic vein. Among his best known settings are two cycles by Boston poet Arlo Bates: A FLOWER CYCLE and TOLD IN THE GATE. --www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/composer/chadwick.html

E. J. Hopkins

1818 - 1901 Person Name: Edward J. Hopkins Composer of "ARTAVIA" in The Hymnal Dr Edward John Hopkins MusDoc United Kingdom 1818-1901. Born at Westminster, England, the son of a clarinetist with the Royal Opera House orchestra, he became an organist (as did two of his brothers) and a composer. In 1826 he became a chorister of the Chapel Royal and sang at the coronation of King William IV in Westminster Abbey. He also sang in the choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral, a double schedule requiring skill and dexterity. On Sunday evenings he would play the outgoing voluntary at St. Martin’s in-the-field. He left Chapel Royal in 1834 and started studying organ construction at two organ factories. He took an appointment at Mitcham Church as organist at age 16, winning an audition against other organists. Four years later he became organist at the Church of St. Peter, Islington. In 1841 he became organist at St. Luke’s, Berwick St., Soho. Two Years later he was organist at Temple Church, which had a historic organ (built in 1683). He held this position for 55 years. In 1845 he married Sarah Lovett, and they had four sons and five daughters. He was closely associated with the Bach Society and was organist for the first English performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. In 1855 he collaborated with Edward Rimbault publishing “The organ, its history and construction” (3 editions 1855-70-77). In 1864 he was one of the founders of the “College of organists”. In 1882 he received an honorary Doctorate of Music from the Archbishop of Canterbury. He composed 30+ hymn tunes and some psalm chants, used by the Church of England. He died in London, England. John Perry

H. J. Storer

1860 - 1935 Person Name: Henry J. Storer Composer of "WHEATON" in The Pilgrim Hymnal b. Cambridge, Mass., 1860; d. Belmont, Mass., 1935; composer and teacher

Calvin Weiss Laufer

1874 - 1938 Person Name: Rev. Calvin W. Laufer Composer of "KERR" in The Hymnal Presbyterian minister and hymnographer Calvin Weiss Laufer was born today in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania in 1874. Following his graduation from Union Seminary in 1900 he was ordained into the Presbyterian ministry and led congregations in New York and New Jersey for several years. Laufer had a generally cheerful outlook on his Christian life, and his first two books, Key-Notes of Optimism (1911) and The Incomparable Christ (1914) expressed that viewpoint. A review of the first book spoke of the "crisp and stirring note in these sermonettes which is well calculated to rouse the mind of readers and banish dejection." His books were popular in their time but today are seen as somewhat superficial. He later began to work with the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education and became its editor of musical publications, producing books such as The Junior Church School Hymnal (1927), The Church School Hymnal for Youth (1928) and When the Little Child Wants to Sing (1935). He was also the associate editor of the Presbyterian Hymnal of 1933, a very popular book which was used in many churches for more than fifty years. In 1932, his book Hymn Lore was published, which contained the stories of fifty hymns from The Church School Hymnal for Youth, with information about their writers and composers (much like this blog). He chose a broad range of hymns, some quite modern and others well-known and loved for centuries. Several of them were by his mentor and friend Louis F. Benson, who had edited the Presbyterian Hymnal of 1895 and its 1911 revision (and also wrote The Best Church Hymns). In the preface to Hymn Lore, Laufer wrote: To live with hymns and to make them one's own is the only sure way of appreciating their literary beauty and spiritual power. (...) That the reading and singing of hymns may become less mechanical, more thoughtful and intelligent, and emotionally more effective, this volume is released to the public. Laufer wrote both hymn texts and tunes himself, most of which first appeared in the books he edited but also had some life outside Presbyterian circles. This tune was written while Laufer was attending a conference in Kansas, though with no particular text in mind. Not long after, he hummed it to a friend, William H. Foulkes, who then wrote the text "Take thou our minds, dear Lord." Laufer's tune was originally called STONY BROOK, but he changed it to honor a friend, William Ralph Hall. Little is known about the writer May Pierpont Hoyt. Her text is generally sung to the tune BREAD OF LIFE by William F. Sherwin, but since that tune is more known with "Break thou the Bread of life," this text could use a different one. --conjubilant.blogspot.com/2010/04/

Jean Ingelow

1820 - 1897 Author of "I Sought the Lord" in Hymns to the Living God Ingelow, Jean, daughter of W. Ingelow, Boston, Lincolnshire, was born in 1820. Her writings are well and favourably known. Her poetical pieces have been published as Poems, 1863, and A Story of Doom and other Poems, 1867. From her Poems, 1863, the cento "And didst Thou love the race that loved not Thee" (Love of Christ in the Congregational Church Hymnal 1887, is taken. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) =============== Born: March 17, 1820, Boston, Lincolnshire, England. Died: July 20, 1897, Kensington, London, England. Buried: Brompton Cemetery, London, England. A well known 19th Century poet, Ingelow’s works include: A Rhyming Chronical of Incidents and Feelings, 1850 Poems, 1863 A Story of Doom and Other Poems, 1867 Mopsa the Fairy One of her more popular poems was "O Fair Dove, O Fond Dove." --www.hymntime.com/tch