Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 1 - 10 of 139Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Joseph Barnby

1838 - 1896 Person Name: Joseph Barnby, 1838 - 96 Composer of "LONGWOOD" in Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America Joseph Barnby (b. York, England, 1838; d. London, England, 1896) An accomplished and popular choral director in England, Barby showed his musical genius early: he was an organist and choirmaster at the age of twelve. He became organist at St. Andrews, Wells Street, London, where he developed an outstanding choral program (at times nicknamed "the Sunday Opera"). Barnby introduced annual performances of J. S. Bach's St. John Passion in St. Anne's, Soho, and directed the first performance in an English church of the St. Matthew Passion. He was also active in regional music festivals, conducted the Royal Choral Society, and composed and edited music (mainly for Novello and Company). In 1892 he was knighted by Queen Victoria. His compositions include many anthems and service music for the Anglican liturgy, as well as 246 hymn tunes (published posthumously in 1897). He edited four hymnals, including The Hymnary (1872) and The Congregational Sunday School Hymnal (1891), and coedited The Cathedral Psalter (1873). Bert Polman

Adoniram J. Gordon

1836 - 1895 Person Name: Adoniram Judson Gordon Composer of "GORDON" in The Cyber Hymnal Adoniram J. Gordon (b. New Hampton, NH, 1836; d. Boston, MA, 1895) was educated at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, and Newton Theological Seminary, Newton, Massachusetts. After being ordained in 1863, he served the Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, and the Clarendon Street Baptist Church, Boston. A close friend of Dwight L. Moody, he promoted evangelism and edited The Service of Song for Baptist Churches (1871) as well as The Vestry Hymn and Tune Book (1872). Both Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary are named after Gordon. Bert Polman ================== Gordon, Adoniram Judson, D.D., born at New Hampton, N.H., Apr. 19, 1836. Graduated at Brown University, 1860; entered the Baptist ministry; Pastor of Clarendon Street Baptist Church, Boston, 1869; and died in 1895. He published The Vestry Hymn and Tune Book, 1872; and was one of the editors of the Service of Song for Baptist Churches, 1871. His hymns in common use include:— 1. O blessed Paraclete. [Holy Spirit .] Given in Sursum Corda, 1898, as having been written in 1890. 2. O Spirit's anointing, for service appointing . [Foreign Missions.] This hymn was "written in the summer of 1886, at Northfield School for Bible Study, organised by Mr. Moody. More than one hundred college students connected with this school gave themselves to the work of foreign missions during their stay at Northfield. Four of their number were chosen to visit the colleges in different parts of the country, and endeavour to awaken a deeper interest in missions during the succeeding academic year. At their request Dr. Gordon” wrote this hymn. Baptist Hymns and Hymn Writers. 3. Where art thou, soul! I hear God say. [Divine Chiding.] Published in social meeting edition of The Service of Song, 1881. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Henry A. Bruinsma

1916 - 1991 Arranger of "THIRSTING" in Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) It was in Bruinsma's musical compositions that his brilliance was most displayed. “Henry’s personality was … embodied in his music: colorful, radiating charisma, magnetic in a nonverbal way,” niece Jane DeGroot said. Bruinsma displayed musical potential even before he was considered old enough to take music lessons, said his wife, Grace Hekman Bruinsma. The preschooler would eavesdrop on his older brother’s piano lessons. After the teacher left, Bruinsma would climb onto the piano bench to practice his brother’s lesson assignment. Later on, he chose to attend Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Mich., for its music program. Following high school graduation in 1933, Bruinsma attended the University of Michigan for a degree in music. He stayed on to complete a Ph.D. in musicology, becoming the first musicologist to graduate from the University of Michigan. It was during his graduate work that Bruinsma wrote Scherzo on a Dutch Nursery Song. “He never lost his love for Dutch history or Dutch Reformed music,” Grace Bruinsma said. It was also during his time at U of M that Bruinsma began taking Grace to music concerts, and in 1939 they were married. Bruinsma began his time as a professor of music at Calvin College (1946-55). In addition to his teaching duties at the college, Bruinsma taught the first music and theology course at Calvin Seminary. He also chaired the first Conference on Liturgy of Music. However, not long after his time at Calvin, Bruinsma decided he was being called to move from teaching to education administration. Of note is his time at Ohio State University (1959-64), where he served as the director of the School of Music. He also held the position of executive committee member of the College of Education. Next, Bruinsma moved to what is now Arizona State University (1964-79), another notable mark in his education administration career. During that time, he served first as chair of the School of Music, then as founding dean of the College of Fine Arts. He is also known to have started the first religious studies program at Arizona State as part of the university’s interdisciplinary studies program. Due to the amount of time he spent in education administration, much of Bruinsma’s musical compositions were never published. After his death, Grace Bruinsma contacted Gerry Bouma of Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Bouma and Henry Bruinsma had met in 1969 at a Grand Rapids Christian High School concert in Chicago. “For whatever reason, Henry and Grace treated us like we were their kids,” Bouma said. Grace asked Bouma to catalog and publish the 10,000 pages of Henry’s material. Taking a semester sabbatical, Bouma began his work. Bouma’s catalog of Bruinsma’s work can be found in the Heritage Hall Archives at the Hekman Library, Calvin College. The Archives also hosts additional works from Bruinsma’s time at Calvin. --Excerpted from Calvin Spark, Spring 2006 issue

Hart

Composer of "HART" in Christ in Song

Laura S. Copenhaver

1868 - 1940 Author of "Heralds of Christ, who bear the King's command" in The Hymnal Born: August 29, 1868, Marion, Virginia. Died: December 18, 1940, Marion, Virginia. Buried: Round Hill Cemetery, Marion, Virginia. Copenhaver was a professor of English Literature at Marion College, which her father John Jacob founded and where her sister May was dean of women. She wrote a number of hymns and magazine articles, and served as chairman of the education committee of the Woman’s Missionary Society of the United Lutheran Church. --www.hymntime.com/tch

William Hamilton Drummond

1778 - 1865 Person Name: William H. Drummond Author of "A Voice From the Desert" in The Cyber Hymnal Drummond, William Hamilton, D.D., son of an Irish physician, was born at Ballyclare, Antrim, Ireland, 1772, and died at Dublin, Oct. 16, 1865. Educated for the ministry at the University of Glasgow, he became, in 1793, the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Belfast, and in 1816, of the Strand Street Chapel, Dublin. His poetical works include:— (1) Juvenile Poems, 1797; (2) Trafalger, 1805; (3) The Giant's Causeway, 1811; (4) Clontarf, 1817; (5) Who are the Happy? a Poem, on the Christian Beatitudes, with other Poems on Sacred Subjects, 1818. In 1818 A Selection of Psalms & Hymns for the Use of the Presbytery of Antrim, and the Congregation of Strand Street, Dublin, was published at Belfast. This Selection was probably edited by Dr. Drummond. It contained several of his hymns. Five of these (Nos. 84, 190, 201, 236, 264) were contributed to that edition. From Who are the Happy? the following hymns have come into common use:— 1. A voice from the desert comes awful and shrill. Advent. This is in extensive use in the Unitarian hymn-books of America. 2. Come, let us sound her praise abroad. Charity. 3. Father, I may not ask for less. Charity. This is stanzas ii.-v. of No. 2, with a new introductory stanza. In this form the hymn was given in the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853. 4. Give thanks to God the Lord. Victory through Christ. Limited in use, although a hymn of much spirit. It appeared in the Belfast Psalms & Hymns, 1818. 5. O had I the wings of a dove. Retirement. This hymn is not suited to congregational use. It appeared in the Belfast Psalms & Hymns, 1818. The original texts of these hymns are in Lyra Britannica, 1867, from whence also most of the biographical facts have been taken. A few of Drummond's hymns, in addition to those named, are found in some American Unitarian collections. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ====================== Drummond, William, p. 312, ii. In the British Museum there is a copy of Drummond's Poems as fol¬lows :— Poems by William Drummond of Hawthornedene. The second Impression, Edinburgh. Printed by Andro Hart, 1616. Neither the Flowers of Zion, nor the translations from the Latin are therein. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

John J. Overholt

1918 - 2000 Arranger of "BENDA NEW" in The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 John J. Overholt was born to an Amish family of limited means in the state of Ohio in 1918. As a child he was soon introduced to his father's personal collection of gospel songs and hymns, which was to have a marked influence on his later life. With his twin brother Joe, he early was exposed to the Amish-Mennonite tradition hymn-singing and praising worship. An early career in Christian service led to a two-year period of relief work in the country of Poland following World War II. During that interim he began to gather many European songs and hymns as a personal hobby, not realizing that these selections would become invaluable to The Christian Hymnary which was begun in 1960 and completed twelve years later in 1972, with a compilation of 1000 songs, hymns and chorales. (The largest Menn. hymnal). A second hymnal was begun simultaneously in the German language entitled Erweckungs Lieder Nr.1 which was brought to completion in 1986. This hymnal has a total of 200 selections with a small addendum of English hymns. Mr. Overholt married in 1965 to an accomplished soprano Vera Marie Sommers, who was not to be outdone by her husband's creativity and compiled a hymnal of 156 selections entitled Be Glad and Sing, directed to children and youth and first printed in 1986. During this later career of hymn publishing, Mr. Overholt also found time for Gospel team work throughout Europe. At this writing he is preparing for a 5th consecutive tour which he arranges and guides. The countries visited will be Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, Poland, USSR and Romania. Mr. Overholt was called to the Christian ministry in 1957 and resides at Sarasota, Florida where he is co-minister of a Beachy Amish-Mennonite Church. Five children were born to this family and all enjoy worship in song. --Letter from Hannah Joanna Overholt to Mary Louise VanDyke, 10 October 1990, DNAH Archives. Photo enclosed.

E. J. Hopkins

1818 - 1901 Person Name: Dr. E. J. Hopkins, 1818-1901 Composer of "VENITE, EXULTEMUS DOMINO" in Methodist Hymn and Tune Book 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

Benjamin Cooke

1734 - 1793 Person Name: Dr. B. Cooke, 1734-1793 Composer of "VENITE, EXULTEMUS DOMINO" in Methodist Hymn and Tune Book Born: November 28, 1734, London, England. Died: September 14, 1793, London, England. Buried: In the west cloister of Westminster Abbey, London, England. Son of Benjamin Cooke, a Covent Garden music publisher, Cooke studied under Pepusch starting at age 9, and within three years was able to serve as assistant to John Robinson, organist at Westminster Abbey. He succeeded Pepusch as conductor at the Academy of Ancient Music in 1752. At Westminster Abbey, he became master of the choristers 1757, lay vicar in 1758, and organist in 1762. Cooke was educated at Cambridge (MusD 1775) and Oxford (doctorate 1782). He became organist at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in 1782, with his son Robert succeeding him there in 1784. He became assistant director at the Handel Commemoration in 1784, and resigned the conductorship at the Academy of Ancient Music in 1784. --www.hymntime.com/tch