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Walter Ehret

1918 - 2009 Person Name: Walter Ehret, 1918- Harmonizer of "FRENCH CAROL" in Hymns for a Pilgrim People EHRET--Walter, passed away on November 16th, 2009 at the age of 91, after a long, happy, and productive life. He left a great legacy as a teacher who touched many students' lives. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Beverly, his wife of 62 years, adored father of David Ehret and Christine Marver, and daughter-in-law Pamela Ehret, and the proud grandfather of Jeffrey, Julia, and Sarah Marver. Mr. Ehret was born in New York City in 1918 to Adele Tonies and her husband who tragically died in the flu epidemic of that year. He was later adopted by a kind stepfather, Charles Ehret. Walter Ehret was a graduate of the Julliard School of Music and Teachers College, Columbia University. He has served as an adjunct faculty member of Hofstra University, Manhattanville College, and Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, he taught instrumental and choral music in several New Jersey and New York school systems for over 40 years. In 1984 he retired as District Coordinator of Music for the Scarsdale, NY Public Schools. Choral groups under his direction have performed with distinction at contests and at other award-winning occasions. They have performed in Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden, as well as on radio and television. His organizations have been invited to sing at New Jersey and New York State School Music Association conventions, divisional meetings of the Music Educators National Conference, and the first American Choral Directors Association National Conference. He was a past president of the Music Educators Associations for Bergen, Nassau, and Westchester Counties. He was a former Vice President of Choirs for the New York State School Music Association, a former State Chairman of Junior High School Music of the New York State School Music Association, and a past member of several MENC committees. He was a founding member and first New York State president of the American Choral Directors Association. He is well known as a clinician, conductor, and choral literature specialist, and has functioned in these various capacities at over 300 workshops in some 30 states. He is one of the nation's most prolific and respected choral editors and arrangers, and has over 2000 publications in print. In addition, he is co-author of Growing with Music, a basic music series for grades K-8, co-author of Functional Lessons in Singing, a class voice textbook, author of The Choral Conductor's Handbook, and co-author of The International Book of Christmas Carols. --www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/

James T. Lightwood

1856 - 1944 Person Name: J. T. Lightwood Author of "Come, ye Christians all" in Carols Old and Carols New Born: 1856, Leeds, England. Died: 1944, Lytham, Lancashire, England. Son of Wesleyan minister Edward Lightwood, James was born and baptized while his father was on the Leeds Brunswick Circuit. He attended Kingswood School (1866-72), earned a BA from London University, and became Headmaster of Pembroke House, a private school in Lytham. He went on to serve for three years as a member of the Board of Improvement Commissioners in Lytham, on the Lytham Council for six years, and as Chairman of the Streets Committee for four years. His resolution to bring gas into Fairhaven was eventually carried by one vote. Apart from music, his other great love was cycling. He began cycling in 1874 on a "boneshaker." By 1885, he was a member of the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC), and soon gained prominence. He was Chief Consul for Lancashire, and a member of the Council of the CTC from 1887. Honorary life membership came in 1907 in recognition of his services to the club, and in particular with publication of the club’s route books and other writings. Music was his great love, though, and hymnody in particular. He was an accomplished organist, and after two years as deputy organist at the Drive Wesleyan Church, St. Annes, he was appointed Honorary Organist and Choirmaster in 1894. When the pressure of work due to his appointment as editor of the new Methodist publication The Choir and organizing the newly formed Music Department of the Methodist Publishing House, the trustees at Drive Church made him a grant of £20 to assist him in his research in hymnology. While advising Methodism on musical matters, he found the unique 1761 Snetzler organ for the New Room at Bristol. Lightwood’s works include: Hymn Tunes and Their Story (London: Charles H. Kelly, 1905) Charles Dickens and Music, 1912 Samuel Wesley, Musician: The Story of His Life Cyclists’ Touring Club: The Romance of 50 Years Cycling, 1928 The Music of the Methodist Hymn-Book (London: The Epworth Press, 1935) http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/l/i/g/lightwood_jt.htm

William M. Morris

Author of "Masters In This Hall" in Worship and Song. (Rev. ed.)

Gustav Holst

1874 - 1934 Arranger of "[Masters in this Hall]" in The Oxford Book of Carols Gustav Holst (b. Chelteham, Gloucestershire, England, September 21, 1874, d. London, England, May 25, 1934) was a renowned British composer and musician. Having studied at Cheltenham Grammar School, he soon obtained a professional position as an organist, and later as choirmaster. In 1892, Holst composed a two-act operetta, which so impressed his father that he borrowed the money to send Holst to the Royal College of Music. Severe neuritis in his right hand later caused him to give up the keyboard, and Holst turned to the trombone and composing. In 1895 Holst met Ralph Vaughan Williams, and the two became lifelong friends. Vaughan Williams helped Holst land his first job as a singing teacher. Holst became very interested in Indian and Hindu culture, and composed a number of operas translated from Sanksrit myths. These were not received well in England, however. Holst is best known for his composition, The Planets, as well as