Gideon Froelich › Texts

Apparently the husband of hymn-writer Mrs. Marion or Marian Froelich, Prof. Gideon Froelich was organist both of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and of Ahawath Chesed Synagogue, both in New York City. The rabbi of the synagogue, Isaac S. Moses, in the preface to the seventh edition of his The Sabbath-School Hymnal (New York: The Bloch Publishing Co., 1906), thanked Mrs. Marion Froelich for her help with English translations of German verse, and wrote:

Prof. Gideon Froelich, whose genius has enriched this book with its finest melodies; no words are adequate to express the editor's gratitude and appreciation. For many years the organist of the above mentioned congregation, he has caught the spirit of Jewish melody, and the character of Jewish worship. His greater reward he will find in the joy which his compositions will produce in the hearts of thousands of Jewish children and in the gratitude of many worshipers in the Synagogue and the home.

(source: AGO Founders Hymnal, p.96)

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19th Century

Froelich, whose name is sometimes given with the title "Professor," was organist and choirmaster of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, and organist at the Ahawath Chesed Synagogue, both in New York City. He also helped found of the American Guild of Organists.

www.hymntime.com/tch/