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Sylvester Main

1817 - 1873 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "DIKEMAN" Died: October 5, 1873. Main, a singing school teacher, partnered with Lucius Biglow to take over William Bradbury’s business in 1867, forming the well known Biglow & Main publishing house. His son was Hubert Main. "Among the playmates who used to gather on the village green was Sylvester Main, who was two or three years older than I. He was a prime favorite with the gentler sex, for he used to protect us from the annoyances of more mischievous boys. In the autumn of 1834 mother and I left Ridgefield and went to live again in Westchester County; and I then bade my friend, Sylvester, adieu. Not until thirty years later did we meet again, this time, strangely enough, in the office of William B. Bradbury with whom he was afterwards a business partner; and from 1864 to the time of his death in 1873 we worked together constantly." Crosby, p. 8 Main’s works include: Cottage Melodies, with William Bradbury (New York: Carlton & Porter, 1859) Hallowed Songs/, with Philip Phillips & Theodore Perkins (New York: Carlton & Porter, 1865) Sources Jones, pp. 13, 89 http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/i/main_s.htm ===================== The Main of Biglow and Main was Sylvester Main, born in Ridgefield in 1817 and a childhood friend of Fanny Crosby. He became a singing-school teacher and wound up in New York City, compiling books of hymn music. He went to work for William Bradbury, music publisher and hymnist, and when Bradbury died around 1868, Biglow and Main partnered to take over the firm. http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/33332/about-town-sacred-music/

S. J. Vail

1818 - 1884 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "WILLIMANTIC" In his youth Silas Jones Vail learned the hatter's trade at Danbury, Ct. While still a young man, he went to New York and took employment in the fashionable hat store of William H. Beebe. Later he established himself in business as a hatter at 118 Fulton Street, where he was for many years successful. But the conditions of trade changed, and he could not change with them. After his failure in 1869 or 1870 he devoted his entire time and attention to music. He was the writer of much popular music for use in churches and Sunday schools. Pieces of music entitled "Scatter Seeds of Kindness," "Gates Ajar," "Close to Thee," "We Shall Sleep, but not Forever," and "Nothing but Leaves" were known to all church attendants twenty years ago. Fanny Crosby, the blind authoress, wrote expressly for him many of the verses he set to music. --Vail, Henry H. (Henry Hobart). Genealogy of some of the Vail family descended from Jeremiah Vail at Salem, Mass., 1639, p. 234.

B. C. Unseld

1843 - 1923 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "SWEET DAY" in Church Hymnal, Mennonite Benjamin Carl Unseld, 1843-1923 Born: October 18, 1843, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Died: November 19, 1923. Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. After leaving school at age 14, Unseld worked as a clerk in a country store. He received his first musical instruction around age 15, from a companion who had attended a singing school. He was shown the representation of the scale in the old Carmina Sacra, and had it sung for him. At the friend’s suggestion, he got permission from his pastor to practice on the church organ. Since both boys worked, their only chance to practice was after the store closed at 9:00 p.m., and occasionally at noontime. They went to the church together and took turns, one at the keyboard and the other at the bellows. Shortly after the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, some of which Unseld witnessed, he left home and became a bookkeeper in the general offices of a railroad in Columbia, Pennsylvania. He sang in a choir, and gained further practice reading music. He rented a melodeon and spent much time in his room improvising on it. He bought a copy of Woodbury’s Harmony and Musical Composition, and studied it as well as he could without a teacher. He accepted an invitation to play the organ in the local Methodist church, on the condition that he received the tunes early in the week so he could learn them. This was his first position as an organist. In the spring of 1866, he entered the Musical Institute in Providence, Rhode Island, conducted by Eben Tourjée (founder of the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, and father of Lizzie Tourjée). There he studied voice, piano, organ, and harmony. After learning of Unseld’s business experience, Dr. Tourjée made him secretary of the school; in 1867, Unseld became the first secretary of the New England Conservatory. Starting in 1870, Unseld attended schools led by Theodore F. Seward. There he met George Webb, Lowell Mason, James McGranahan, Charles Case, and other notables in the music community. In 1874, Unseld taught at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and helped train Fisk’s Jubilee Singers for their European trip. In 1877 and 1878, he was organist and choir master at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1879, Unseld moved to New York City, and for 15 years taught, led choirs, composed and published. In New York, his musical headquarters was the publishing house of Biglow & Main Company, where he was in almost daily contact with the popular composers and teachers of the day: Ira Sankey, Horatio Palmer, Hubert Main, Robert Lowry, et al. In 1894, Unseld moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked as an editor for the Fillmore Music House. In 1898, he moved to Dayton, Ohio, and worked in a similar capacity for the Lorenz Publishing Company. He moved back to New York City in 1901, then to Hagerstown, Maryland in 1905. He and his wife Sallie were apparently living in Tennessee as of 1920. Unseld’s works include: The Choral Standard (New York: Fillmore Brothers, 1895) Progress in Song, with E. T. Hildebrand (Cincinnati, Ohio: The Fillmore Brothers Company) Unseld was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2004. Sources-- Hall, pp. 239-44 Music-- Ancyra Euphemia He Is Risen Hordville Make Haste! Meschach Twilight Is Falling Unseld Wonderful Message --www.hymntime.com/tch

Robert Prescott Stewart

1825 - 1894 Person Name: R. P. Stewart Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "[I love Thy Kingdom, Lord]" in The Lutheran Hymnary

Carl Friedrich Zelter

1758 - 1832 Person Name: Carl Friedrich Zelter, 1758-1832 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "ORRINGTON" in The Cyber Hymnal

Martin Madan

1726 - 1790 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Alterer of "Awake, and sing the song" in The Hymnal Madan, Martin, son of Colonel Martin Madan, and brother of Dr. Spencer Madan, sometime Bishop of Peterborough, was born in 1726. He was to have qualified for the Bar, but through a sermon by J. Wesley on the words "Prepare to meet thy God," the whole current of his life was changed. After some difficulty he received Holy Orders, and subsequently founded and became chaplain of the Lock Hospital, Hyde Park Corner. He was popular as a preacher, and had no inconsiderable reputation as a musical composer. He ceased preaching on the publication of his work Thelyphthora, in which he advocated the practice of polygamy. He died in 1790. He published A Commentary on the Articles of the Church of England; A Treatise on the Christian Faith, &c, and:- A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Extracted from Various Authors, and published by the Reverend Mr. Madan. London, 1760. This Collection contained 170 hymns thrown together without order or system of any kind. In 1763 he added an Appendix of 24 hymns. This Collection, referred to as Madam’s Psalms & Hymns, had for many years a most powerful influence on the hymnody of the Church of England. Nearly the whole of its contents, together with its extensively altered texts, were reprinted in numerous hymnbooks for nearly one hundred years. At the present time many of the great hymns of the last century are in use as altered by him in 1760 and 1763. Although several hymns have been attributed to him, we have no evidence that he ever wrote one. His hymnological labours were employed in altering, piecing, and expanding the work of others. And in this he was most successful. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ============================

Vernon L. Peterson

Person Name: Vernon L. Peterson, 1932- Meter: 6.6.8.6 Translator of "¡Qué Tierno Padre Es Dios!" in Himnos de Vida y Luz

David Ashley White

b. 1944 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "TAYLOR" in Celebrating Grace Hymnal David Ashley White (b. 1944) is a seventh-generation Texan, born in San Antonio, and he both studied and taught in Texas throughout his career. He majored in oboe at Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, in composition for his Masters in Music at the University of Houston, and received a DMA from the University of Texas at Austin. Since 1977 he has been on the faculty of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, teaching theory and composition. White is a widely published composer of many types of compositions and has received many commissions. Selah Publishing Co. published three collections of his hymns. Emily Brink

Lewis Hartsough

1828 - 1919 Person Name: L. H. Meter: 6.6.8.6 Author of "I Hear Thy Welcome Voice" in The Church Hymnal Hartsough, Lewis, was born at Ithaca, New York, Aug. 31, 1823. Of his hymns the following are in common use:—- 1. I hear Thy welcome voice. The Divine Invitation. 2. In the rifted Rock I'm resting. Safety in Jesus. 3. Lead me to the Rock that's higher. Safety in Jesus. 4. O who'll stand up for Jesus? All for Jesus Nos. 1-3 are in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos, 1878 (1 and 3 with music by Hartsough). --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) ================= Hartsough, Lewis, p. 1569, ii. Mr. Hartsough entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1851, and is now (1905) residing in Mount Vernon, Indiana. He was musical editor of J. Hillman's Revivalist, Troy, 1868, and co-editor of The Sacred Harmonist, Boston, 1864, and Beulah Songs, Phila., 1879. In addition to the hymns named on p. 1569, ii., "Let me go where saints are going" [Heav'n desired] (1861) has come into common use. It appeared in W. B. Bradbury's Clarion, 1867, p. 83. Concerning his hymn, "I hear Thy welcome voice," Mr. Sankey says in his My Life and Sacred Songs, 1906, p. 11(3:— The words and music of this beautiful hymn were first published in a monthly, entitled, Guide to Holiness, a copy of which was sent to me in England. I immediately adopted it, and had it published in Sacred Songs and Solos. It proved to be one of the most helpful of the revival hymns, and was often used as an invitation hymn in England and America." [Rev. L. F. Benson, D.D.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907) ================ Hartsough, Lewis. (August 31, 1823--January 1, 1919). Details of his early life are lacking. After being admitted to the Oneida, New York, Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1851 and serving several pastorates in that state, his health failed and he went to Utah where he was influential in establishing the Utah Mission, later becoming its superintendent. Upon relinquishing that position he moved to Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. Bird's statement that he lived in Indiana is erroneous. He was minister of the South Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Utica, New York, when he first became associated with Joseph Hillman, who chose him to act as musical editor of The Revivalist, a gospel hymn book which went through eleven editions in five years, 1868-1872. This book had a remarkable sale and was doubtless used in more churches during the 1870s than any other of similar character. To it the Reverend Hartsough contributed, in one edition, twelve texts, fourteen tunes, and thirty arrangements of tunes, several of the latter being of the religio-folk variety which had been so popular in the early camp meetings. It is a valuable source work. "I love to think of the heavenly land" (p.1573) is by Hartsough. "I hear thy welcome voice (p.1569), originally in six four-line stanzas, with Refrain, in full S/1931; with the first three stanzas, slightly emended, Brethren/1951; with stanzas 1, 2, 3, and 5, also emended, in Hymns of the Living Faith, 1951. Writeen in 1872 with musical settings by the author, it is the only one of his many songs which has continued in use. Source: Metcalf, Frank J. American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music; several editions of The Revivalist. --Robert G. McCutchan, DNAH Archives

Ira David Sankey

1840 - 1908 Person Name: Ira D. Sankey, 1840-1908 Meter: 6.6.8.6 Composer of "SILVER STREET" in Rejoice Hymns Sankey, Ira David, was born in Edinburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1840, of Methodist parents. About 1856 he removed with his parents to New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Four years afterwards he became the Superintendent of a large Sunday School in which he commenced his career of singing sacred songs and solos. Mr. Moody met with him and heard him sing at the International Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association, at Indianapolis, and through Mr. Moody's persuasion he joined him in his work at Chicago. After some two or three years' work in Chicago, they sailed for England on June 7, 1872, and held their first meeting at York a short time afterwards, only eight persons being present. Their subsequent work in Great Britain and America is well known. Mr. Sankey's special duty was the singing of sacred songs and solos at religious gatherings, a practice which was in use in America for some time before he adopted it. His volume of Sacred Songs and Solos is a compilation from various sources, mainly American and mostly in use before. Although known as Sankey and Moody’s Songs, only one song, "Home at last, thy labour done" is by Mr. Sankey, and not one is by Mr. Moody. Mr. Sankey supplied several of the melodies. The English edition of the Sacred Songs & Solos has had an enormous sale; and the work as a whole is very popular for Home Mission services. The Songs have been translated into several languages. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) Pseudonymns: Harry S. Lower Rian A. Dykes ==================== Sankey, I. D., p. 994, i. During the past fifteen years Mr. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos have had a very large sale, which has justified him in increasing the number of songs and hymns, including " New Hymns and Solos," to 1200. In 1906 he published My Life and Sacred Songs (London : Morgan & Scott). In addition to the "Story of his Own Life," the work contains an account of the most popular of his solos, with interesting reminiscences of the spiritual awakening of many who were influenced through his singing of them in public. In this respect it corresponds in some measure with G. J. Stevenson's Methodist Hymn Book, &c, 1883 (p. 1094, i.). It is an addition to the Sacred Songs and Solos, which will be held in esteem by many. In addition to his hymn, noted on p. 994, ii., Mr. Sankey gives details of the following:— 1. Out of the shadow-land into the sunshine. [Heaven Anticipated.] Mr. Sankey's account of this hymn is:— "I wrote this hymn specially for the memorial service held for Mr. Moody in Carnegie Hall, where 1 also sang it as a solo. It is the last sacred song of which I wrote both the words and music. The idea was suggested by Mr. Moody's last words, 'Earth recedes; heaven opens before me . . . God is calling me, and I must go.' On account of its peculiar association with my fellow-labourer in the Gospel for so many years, the words are here given in full." The hymn follows on p. 185, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines and a chorus. 2. Rejoice! Rejoice! our King is coming, [Advent.] Mr. Sankey writes concerning this hymn:— "During one of my trips to Great Britain on the SS. City of Rome a storm raged on the sea. The wind was howling through the rigging, and waves like mountains of foam were breaking over the bow of the vessel. A great fear had fallen upon the passengers. When the storm was at its worst, we all thought we might soon go to the bottom of the sea. The conviction came to me that the Lord would be with us iu the trying hour, and sitting down in the reading room, I composed this hymn. Before reaching England the tune had formed itself in my mind, and on arriving in London I wrote it out, and had it published in Sacred Songs and Solos, where it is No. 524 in the edition. of 1888. From Mr. Sankey's autobiographical sketch we gather that he was born at Edinburgh, in Western Pennsylvania, Aug. 28, 1840, joined Mr. Moody in 1871, and visited England for the first time in 1873. The original of the Sacred Songs, &c, of 23 pieces only, was offered as a gift to the London publishers of P. Phillips's Hallowed Song, and declined by them. It was subsequently accepted by Mr. K. O. Morgan, of Morgan & Scott, and is now a volume of 1200 hymns. From a return kindly sent us by Messrs. Morgan & Scott, we find that the various issues of the Sacred Songs and Solos were:— In 1873, 24 pp.; 1874, 72 pp. ; 1876, 153 hymns; 1877, 271 hymns; 1881, 441 hymns; 1888, 750 hymns; 1903, 1200 hymns. In addition, The Christian Choir, which is generally associated with the Sacred Songs and Solos, was issued in 1884 with 75 hymns, and in 1896 with 281. The New Hymns & Solos, by the same firm, were published in 1888. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)