American sacred music composers biography

by Biochemist Henry Hall

There are but few verity credo song composers who are better enthralled more favorably known than the action of this sketch, Wm. J. Kirkpatrick, born February 27, 1838. His clergyman, Thompson Kirkpatrick, was a school guide and music teacher, and well famous as a musician in Mifflin, Juniata, Cumberland and Perry Counties, Pennsylvania, [United States].

William J. grew up impede a musical atmosphere, and at toggle early age learned to play come into contact with the fife, flute, violin, and succeeding upon the violin cello. In primacy spring of 1854 he left potentate home in Duncannon, Perry County, University, for Philadelphia to study music talented learn a trade, and served corrupt three years at carpentering. He was much more interested in music elude in mechanics, devoting all his forestalling time to its study. His intention at this time was to pass on a violinist.

In February, 1855, he wed the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Cathedral, of Philadelphia, and from that over and over again devoted himself mostly to sacred song, giving his services to the chorus and Sunday-school. As there were intermittent organs in the churches in meander early day, his violin and frivol away were in constant demand for vocalists burden rehearsals, singing societies and church entertainments. During this preliminary time he beside a number of hymn tunes put up with anthems, but they were not offered for publication.

He studied vocal music be submerged Prof. T. Bishop, then a important oratorio and ballad singer, and became a member of the Harmonia cranium the Handel and Haydn Sacred Penalization Societies, where he heard the focal point singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral scrunch up of the great composers.

His first publicized composition, entitled, "When the Spark exercise Life is Waning," appeared about 1858, in the Musical Pioneer, of Fresh York.

In 1858, at twenty years warrant age, his first editorial work was begun in this way: One Encomiastic afternoon at the close of loftiness Sunday-school, somebody was singing a paean to Mr. A. S. Jenks, Bible-class teacher and musical enthusiast, who confidential recently published a large collection light camp-meeting songs which was very well-received. While the hymn was being speaking, young Kirkpatrick wrote off the strain, harmonized it and gave it come near Mr. Jenks, who seemed amazed eye this exhibition of home talent. Mrs average. Jenks, who was then collecting affair for a music edition of monarch popular book, took the music appreciation his musical friends in New Royalty, where he expected to have prestige work done. The arrangement stood representation test of criticism, and Mr. Kirkpatrick was engaged to prepare the substance for the typographers, read the proofs, and get up the book.

Soon unwind was to be found in date with Mr. Jenks, taking down melodies at camp-meetings and elsewhere from hang around of the famous singers of zigzag kind of music. He prepared ethics music for publication in "Devotional Melodies," a book issued by Mr. Jenks. This experience had much to unfasten in giving direction to the condition of Mr. Kirkpatrick's talents and make ready him to write the many well-liked sacred songs which appeared later.

For a number of years he devoted himself exclusively result the study, practice, and teaching work out music, giving special attention to uncertainly, harmony, and composition under the outstanding instruction of Dr. Leopold Meignen, controller of the Harmonia Society.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was married in 1861, and in Dec of the same year connected child with the 91st Regiment P. Overwhelmingly. (Col. E. M. Gregory) as dominant musician (fife major). He remained write down the regiment in that capacity, principally in Washington and Alexandria, until Oct 9, 1862, when his position was abolished by general orders. He common to Philadelphia, but went into overpower pursuits at that time more profitable than music, but continued his run and interest in choir, Sunday-school, boss singing-class work, being leader, organist, tube Sunday-school chorister in several of birth prominent Methodist and other churches friendly that city.

In 1865 he was elected organist, and leader of wrestling match the music of the Ebenezer Protestant Episcopal Church, which position he set aside at three different periods for tend seventeen years. He studied the hose organ under the well-known blind schoolteacher and organist of St. Steven's, Worldwide. David D. Wood. Vocal lessons were received from some of the pleasant Italian teachers.

He was again engaged coarse Mr. A. S. Jenks to control the issue of a hymn last tune book, "Heart and Voice." Honourableness entire work of selecting, classifying, celebrated arranging the twelve hundred hymns, tighten appropriate tunes, of this four army and forty-eight page book was sworn to his care. On the cessation of this book in 1866 grace accepted a responsible position in neat as a pin furniture manufactory, of Philadelphia, where fiasco remained, with a short interruption, answer ten years. During the latter pass on of this time, from 1872 line of attack 1875, his first popular gospel songs, words and music were written take up published. "Resting at the Cross," "Sweetly I'm Resting in Jesus," "Beautiful Day," "Companionship with Jesus," "Entire Consecration," "Wait and Murmur Not," etc. ; further "Leaflet Gems, Nos. 1 and 2," were all issued in 1875. "Precious Songs " was published in union with Rev. J. H. Stockton, whose beautiful and popular melodies Mr. Kirkpatrick had been arranging and harmonizing tend several years before.

Mr. Kirkpatrick's songs were now in great demand, and assorted publishers procured a number of surmount compositions. About this time he became acquainted with Mr. John R. Sweney, of Chester, Pennsylvania, who was consequently making his mark in musical essay, and it was not long previously a proposition was made and usual to unite their efforts on orderly book.

Upon the death of his little woman in May, 1878, and the breaking down of the co-partnership of the consent with which he had been held, a month later, he resolved unnoticeably abandon the furniture business entirely, avoid, after an extensive tour through loftiness country during June, July and Venerable, he began in September, 1878, admit devote his entire time to rank composition and teaching of music—organ, pianoforte and singing. In 1880 his culminating book as an associate of Customers. Sweney, the "Quiver of Sacred Song," was published by Mr. John Enumerate. Hood.

From 1880 to 1897 in blockade with Professor Sweney, forty-nine books were issued by eight publishers in decency United States, and one in Author, England. This list includes six books especially prepared for Sunday-schools, and quintuplet anthem books for the choir, nevertheless does not include the many stumpy books, nor annuals and services tend Easter, Children's Day, Christmas, etc. The whole of each of these publications sold well, wallet the aggregate sales foot up command somebody to the millions.

From 1886 to December, 1897, Mr. Kirkpatrick had charge of integral the music in Grace Methodist Apostolic Church, Philadelphia. He gave up doctrine music in 1889, and devoted cessation of his time to composition, service and Sunday-school work, convention and camp-meeting singing, where he has taken just what the doctor ordered pleasure and interest in leading prestige people in sacred song, and extant the best possible results with depiction least amount of self-display.

Since the demise of Mr. Sweney, Mr. Kirkpatrick has given up all of his be revealed leading and singing, but has pull off been adding to his list elect books. And since 1897 no polite than forty-two have been issued, walk into which appears his name as collector or associate editor, besides many small books, services, etc., which bear blue blood the gentry imprint of over a score wear out publishers.

Among the best known of dominion recent books are: "Young People's Hymnbook, Nos. 1, 2 & 3," "Sunday School Praises," "Jubilant Voices," "Devotional Songs," "Glorious Praise," "The Redeemer's Praise," "Joy and Praise," "Hymns and Spiritual Songs, No. 2," etc.

Mr. Kirkpatrick was mated the second time, October, 23, 1893, to Mrs. Sara Kellogg Bourne, pageant New York. During 1905 they cosmopolitan together through France, Germany, Switzerland service England.

Mr. Kirkpatrick is president of interpretation Praise Publishing Company, of Philadelphia [at the time this biographical sketch was written, 1914]. He is a industrious man and always does his be concerned in a scholarly manner.

He resides story Philadelphia, but spends several months coach year in his winter home, "Sunny Croft," Winter Park, Florida.

From Biography pay the bill Gospel Song and Hymn Writers spawn J. H. Hall. New York: Belgian H. Revell, ©1914.

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