Richard Storrs Willis (February 10, 1819 – May 10, 1900) was an American composer, mainly of hymn music. His best known melody is probably the one called, simply, Carol. This is the standard tune, in the United States, though not in Great Britain, of the much-loved hymn "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" (1850), with lyrics by Edmund Sears. He was also a music critic and journal editor.
Willis then went to Germany, where he studied six years under Xavier Schnyder and Moritz Hauptmann.[citation needed] After returning to America, Willis served as music critic for the New York Tribune, The Albion, and The Musical Times, for which he served as editor for a time. He joined the New-York American-Music Association, an organization which promoted the work native of naturalized American composers. He reviewed the organization's first concert for their second season, held December 30, 1856, in the Musical World, as a "creditable affair, all things considered".[2]
Willis began his own journal, Once a Month: A Paper of Society, Belles-Lettres and Art, and published its first issue in January 1862.[3]
Willis died on May 7, 1900. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, in Detroit.
Worksedit
His works and music compilations include:
Church Chorals and Choir Studies (1850)
Our Church Music (1856)
Waif of Song (1876)
Pen and Lute (1883)
Referencesedit
^Baker, Thomas N. Nathaniel Parker Willis and the Trials of Literary Fame. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001: 160. ISBN0-19-512073-6.
^Brodsky Lawrence, Vera. Strong on Music: The New York Music Scene in the Days of George Templeton Strong. The University of Chicago Press, 1999. vol. III, p. 72. ISBN978-0-226-47015-3
^Brodsky Lawrence, Vera. Strong on Music: The New York Music Scene in the Days of George Templeton Strong. The University of Chicago Press, 1999. vol. III, p. 463. ISBN978-0-226-47015-3
Further readingedit
The Book of World Famous Music, Popular, Classical and Folk (1966), by James Fuld.
The Hymns and Hymn Writers of the Church (1911), by Charles Nutter and Wilbur Tillett
richard, storrs, willis, february, 1819, 1900, american, composer, mainly, hymn, music, best, known, melody, probably, called, simply, carol, this, standard, tune, united, states, though, great, britain, much, loved, hymn, came, upon, midnight, clear, 1850, wi. Richard Storrs Willis February 10 1819 May 10 1900 was an American composer mainly of hymn music His best known melody is probably the one called simply Carol This is the standard tune in the United States though not in Great Britain of the much loved hymn It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 1850 with lyrics by Edmund Sears He was also a music critic and journal editor Image of Richard Storrs Willis Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography editWillis whose siblings included Nathaniel Parker Willis and Fanny Fern 1 was born on February 10 1819 in Boston Massachusetts He attended Chauncey Hall the Boston Latin School and Yale College where he was a member of Skull and Bones in 1841 Willis then went to Germany where he studied six years under Xavier Schnyder and Moritz Hauptmann citation needed After returning to America Willis served as music critic for the New York Tribune The Albion and The Musical Times for which he served as editor for a time He joined the New York American Music Association an organization which promoted the work native of naturalized American composers He reviewed the organization s first concert for their second season held December 30 1856 in the Musical World as a creditable affair all things considered 2 Willis began his own journal Once a Month A Paper of Society Belles Lettres and Art and published its first issue in January 1862 3 Willis died on May 7 1900 He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit Works editHis works and music compilations include Church Chorals and Choir Studies 1850 Our Church Music 1856 Waif of Song 1876 Pen and Lute 1883 References edit Baker Thomas N Nathaniel Parker Willis and the Trials of Literary Fame New York Oxford University Press 2001 160 ISBN 0 19 512073 6 Brodsky Lawrence Vera Strong on Music The New York Music Scene in the Days of George Templeton Strong The University of Chicago Press 1999 vol III p 72 ISBN 978 0 226 47015 3 Brodsky Lawrence Vera Strong on Music The New York Music Scene in the Days of George Templeton Strong The University of Chicago Press 1999 vol III p 463 ISBN 978 0 226 47015 3Further reading editThe Book of World Famous Music Popular Classical and Folk 1966 by James Fuld The Hymns and Hymn Writers of the Church 1911 by Charles Nutter and Wilbur TillettExternal links edit nbsp Biography portalWorks by or about Richard Storrs Willis at Internet Archive Richard Storrs Willis at Find a Grave Richard Storrs Willis Free scores by Richard Storrs Willis in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Storrs Willis amp oldid 1157448536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
