This article is about the American composer and educator. For the sailor, see Benjamin F. Baker. For the American businessman and politician, see B. Frank Baker.
Benjamin Franklin Baker (July 10, 1811 – March 11, 1889) was an American educator and composer.
Benjamin Franklin Baker was born on July 10, 1811, in Wenham, Massachusetts, to John and Sally Baker.[1] When he was 14 years old, his family moved to Salem, Massachusetts, where he began his musical studies.[1]
In 1833 he began his professional music career while touring as a singer.[2] After this he moved to Bangor, Maine, for a time, making a living as a businessman, but moved to Boston in 1837.[3] With his cousin Isaac Baker Woodbury, he began a series of teacher's conventions.[4]
Beginning in 1839, he spent the next 24 years in Boston in the capacity of music conductor for various churches there.[1] Baker succeeded Lowell Mason as music teacher in the Boston Public School system in 1841. That same year he married Sabra L. Heywood.[1] He became music director at the Federal Street Church in Boston, where he taught voice lessons.[5] During this time period, he continued performing, often as featured soloist with the Handel and Haydn Society.[2]
In 1851 he founded his own music school, where he directed the vocal classes and served as the principal. The school prospered until he retired in 1868.[1][6] By the late 1850s he was traveling to other parts of the United States as a conductor.[7] Towards the end of his career in the 1870s, Baker was the editor of the Boston Music Journal.[1] He died on March 11, 1889, in Boston without having any children.[1]
Style and influenceedit
Baker taught music lessons seeking to promote "effective harmony" and ease of execution when performing music, yet he tried to avoid music that was "commonplace or trivial".[5] His teaching as well as musical compositions focused mainly on vocal music, with an emphasis on sacred music and pedagogy.[1] His compositions were performed during his lifetime not only in the population centers surrounding Boston, but also in small communities wishing to showcase "ambitious" works.[8]
Gilbert Chase, commenting strictly on the music of The Burning Ship, stated it was of no "particular distinction". This cantata used a theme, common at the time for "genteel" presentations, of introducing mother and child to extreme peril and subsequently concluding with an obligatory happy ending using a plot of divine intervention.[8]
Publicationsedit
Baker published more than 25 collections of hymns, songs, and music theory books.[2] Among them:
A Book of Songs and Hymns with Isaac Baker Woodbury (1838)[1]
The Boston Educational Society's Collection with Isaac Baker Woodbury (1842)[9]
Baker's Theoretical and Practical Harmony: Including a Complete Classification of Intervals, Common Chords, Discords, iatonic and Fundamental Harmonies, Suspensions, and Passing Notes; With a Treatment of Thorough Bass, the Affinity of Chords, Modulation, and Pedal Point." (1870)[10]
Compositionsedit
Baker composed numerous anthems, hymns, and other various vocal works.[2] Of particular note are his cantatas.
^ abcdefghijklmnOhles, John F. (1978). Biographical Dictionary of American Educators. Greenwood Publishing. p. 73. ISBN9780313040122.
^ abcdSlonimsky, Nicolas; Kuhn, Laura, eds. (2001). Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Vol. 1. New York: Schirmer Books. ISBN0-02-865526-5.
^ abcdeGarrett, Charles Hiroshi, ed. (2013). The Grove Dictionary of American Music. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-531428-1.
^Crawford, Richard (2001). America's Musical Life: A History. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 152–153. ISBN9780393048100.
^ abBlumhofer, Edith Waldvogel (2005). Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 145. ISBN9780802842534.
^Claghorn, Charles Eugene (1973). Biographical Dictionary of American Music. West Nyack, New York: Parker Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN0-13-076331-4.
^Kaufman, Charles H. (1981). Music in New Jersey, 1655–1860: A Study of Musical Activity and Musicians in New Jersey from Its First Settlement to the Civil War. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. p. 122. ISBN9780838622704.
^ abcChase, Gilbert (1992). America's Music, from the Pilgrims to the Present. University of Illinois Press. p. 153. ISBN9780252062759.
^ abSanjek, Russell (1988). American Popular Music and Its Business : The First Four Hundred Years Volume II: From 1790 to 1909: The First Four Hundred Years Volume II: From 1790 to 1909. Oxford University Press. p. 209. ISBN9780195364620.
^Perone, James E. (1997). Harmony Theory: A Bibliography. Greenwood Press. p. 9. ISBN9780313295935.
November 01, 2023
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This article is about the American composer and educator For the sailor see Benjamin F Baker For the American businessman and politician see B Frank Baker Benjamin Franklin Baker July 10 1811 March 11 1889 was an American educator and composer Benjamin Franklin BakerBorn 1811 07 10 July 10 1811Wenham MassachusettsDiedMarch 11 1889 1889 03 11 aged 77 Boston MassachusettsOccupation s Composer singer educator authorSpouseSabra L Heywood Contents 1 Biography 2 Style and influence 3 Publications 4 Compositions 5 ReferencesBiography editBenjamin Franklin Baker was born on July 10 1811 in Wenham Massachusetts to John and Sally Baker 1 When he was 14 years old his family moved to Salem Massachusetts where he began his musical studies 1 In 1833 he began his professional music career while touring as a singer 2 After this he moved to Bangor Maine for a time making a living as a businessman but moved to Boston in 1837 3 With his cousin Isaac Baker Woodbury he began a series of teacher s conventions 4 Beginning in 1839 he spent the next 24 years in Boston in the capacity of music conductor for various churches there 1 Baker succeeded Lowell Mason as music teacher in the Boston Public School system in 1841 That same year he married Sabra L Heywood 1 He became music director at the Federal Street Church in Boston where he taught voice lessons 5 During this time period he continued performing often as featured soloist with the Handel and Haydn Society 2 In 1851 he founded his own music school where he directed the vocal classes and served as the principal The school prospered until he retired in 1868 1 6 By the late 1850s he was traveling to other parts of the United States as a conductor 7 Towards the end of his career in the 1870s Baker was the editor of the Boston Music Journal 1 He died on March 11 1889 in Boston without having any children 1 Style and influence editBaker taught music lessons seeking to promote effective harmony and ease of execution when performing music yet he tried to avoid music that was commonplace or trivial 5 His teaching as well as musical compositions focused mainly on vocal music with an emphasis on sacred music and pedagogy 1 His compositions were performed during his lifetime not only in the population centers surrounding Boston but also in small communities wishing to showcase ambitious works 8 Gilbert Chase commenting strictly on the music of The Burning Ship stated it was of no particular distinction This cantata used a theme common at the time for genteel presentations of introducing mother and child to extreme peril and subsequently concluding with an obligatory happy ending using a plot of divine intervention 8 Publications editBaker published more than 25 collections of hymns songs and music theory books 2 Among them A Book of Songs and Hymns with Isaac Baker Woodbury 1838 1 The Boston Educational Society s Collection with Isaac Baker Woodbury 1842 9 Baker s American School Music Book 1844 1 The Choral with Isaac Baker Woodbury 1845 9 Baker s Theory of Harmony 1847 1 Elementary Music Book 1850 1 Haydn Collection of Church Music with L H Southard 1850 1 Melodia Sacra with A N Johnson and Josiah Osgood 1852 1 Baker s Church Music 1855 3 Baker s Theoretical and Practical Harmony Including a Complete Classification of Intervals Common Chords Discords iatonic and Fundamental Harmonies Suspensions and Passing Notes With a Treatment of Thorough Bass the Affinity of Chords Modulation and Pedal Point 1870 10 Compositions editBaker composed numerous anthems hymns and other various vocal works 2 Of particular note are his cantatas The Storm King 1856 3 The Burning Ship cantata with lyrics by Howard M Ticknor 8 1858 3 Camillus the Roman Conqueror 1865 3 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Ohles John F 1978 Biographical Dictionary of American Educators Greenwood Publishing p 73 ISBN 9780313040122 a b c d Slonimsky Nicolas Kuhn Laura eds 2001 Baker s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians Vol 1 New York Schirmer Books ISBN 0 02 865526 5 a b c d e Garrett Charles Hiroshi ed 2013 The Grove Dictionary of American Music Vol 1 Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 531428 1 Crawford Richard 2001 America s Musical Life A History W W Norton amp Company pp 152 153 ISBN 9780393048100 a b Blumhofer Edith Waldvogel 2005 Her Heart Can See The Life and Hymns of Fanny J Crosby Wm B Eerdmans Publishing p 145 ISBN 9780802842534 Claghorn Charles Eugene 1973 Biographical Dictionary of American Music West Nyack New York Parker Publishing Company Inc ISBN 0 13 076331 4 Kaufman Charles H 1981 Music in New Jersey 1655 1860 A Study of Musical Activity and Musicians in New Jersey from Its First Settlement to the Civil War Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press p 122 ISBN 9780838622704 a b c Chase Gilbert 1992 America s Music from the Pilgrims to the Present University of Illinois Press p 153 ISBN 9780252062759 a b Sanjek Russell 1988 American Popular Music and Its Business The First Four Hundred Years Volume II From 1790 to 1909 The First Four Hundred Years Volume II From 1790 to 1909 Oxford University Press p 209 ISBN 9780195364620 Perone James E 1997 Harmony Theory A Bibliography Greenwood Press p 9 ISBN 9780313295935 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin Franklin Baker musician amp oldid 1144321022, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
