AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS CENTENNIAL THE FOUNDERS OF THE AGO—WHO WERE THEY? Barbara Owen, ChM Their names crop up on old anthems that have not been sung for years, and sprightly organ variations played at Organ Historical Society conventions. Go back far enough in old issues of The Diapason or the “original” The American Organist and their stiffly :‘ posed likenesses peer back at you from the V yellowed pages. An occasional plaque in some metropolitan church serves as a re ‘I minder that their fingers once touched the keys of an organ there. - Many of them were giants in their day, - . .• men (they were mostly men) to be reckoned ,:_ ‘ with at an organ console or on a podium. A surprising number are mentioned in the 1935 Grove’s Dictionary or its American Supplement, as well as in other standard sources. Most of them were from the eastern cities, but places as far away as Colorado and California are represented, and one Founder was a Canadian. Most had good Anglo-Sax- on surnames, but there is also a smattering of names betraying German, French, Scandina d’Indy FRANKLIN BASSETT. b. 1852 Wheeling, W.Va.; vian, and Italian origins. And of the 145 that 0: Churches in Meadville, Pa., and Toledo, Ohio, d. 1915 were designated as “Founders” on the final 1879—86 5: Reinecke in Leipzig day of 1896, a tiny minority—four, in fact— First Congregational Church, Oberlin, Ohio 0: First Methodist Church, Plymouth Church, St. were women. Two Founders died durirtg the Second Congregational Church, Oberlin, Ohio Paul’s Church, Cleveland, Ohio year following the founding of the Guild, but T: Oberlin Conservatory 1886; Prof. of Organ and T: Cleveland Conservatory, 1877; Director 1882— 15 were still living at the 50th anniversary in Comp. 1892 Chamber-music pianist. C: Organ and piano music, songs, choral 1947. WILLIAM KIPP BASSFORD. b. 1839, New York, Dean of the Northern Ohio AGO Chapter c.1919. Some of the Founders were notable N.Y. ; d. 1902 New York, N.Y. 5: Samuel Jackson enough to have entire biographies and dis J. WARREN ANDREWS. b. 1860 Lynn, Mass.; sertations written about them. But others d. 1932 Grantwood, N.J. 0: East Orange, N.J. seem to have “vanished, as though they had 0: First Baptist Church, Boston Street Methodist Calvary Church, New York, N.Y. C: Church music, songs, opera, piano music never been. “ The following brief sketches Church, Lynn, Mass. Concertized as a pianist. hardly do justice to a host ofindividuals who Trinity Episcopal Church, Newport, RI., 1879— Pilgrim Congregational Church, Cambridge, led interesting and productive lives during a JOHN C. BATCHELDER. b. 1852 Topsham, Vt. Mass. period that is becoming of increasing interest 5: Berlin Minneapolis, 1895— 0: to music historians, but it is hoped that they Detroit Church of the Divine Paternity, New York, T: Detroit Conservatory will give some fleeting glimpse of the N.Y., 1898—1932 achievements and stature of a group of far- C: Choral church music JOHN D. BISCHOFF, Mus.D. b. 1850 Chicago, Ill.; sighted musicians whose common interests Pianist, teacher; Warden ofAGO 1913—16. d. 1909 Washington, D.C. brought them together in the year 1896 to 5: Wisconsin Institute for the Blind VICTOR BAlER, Mus.Doc. b. 1861 New York, N.Y.; 0: First Congregational Church, Washington, found the American Guild of Organists. d. 1921 New York, N.Y. D.C., 1874—1909 5: Arthur Messiter, Trinity Church C: Hymn tunes, songs, piano music the abbreviations is as follows: The key to 0: Trinity Church, New York, N.Y. , 1885—97 Blind from age of two years. S = Studied (institutions, teachers) T: School of Music, Jersey City, N.J., 1881—92 ROBERT BONNER. b. 1854 Brighton, U.K. d. 1899 0 = Churches served as Organist Choirboy at Trinity Church, New York. ; 5: Leipzig Conservatory T = Institutions served as Teacher Directed Schubert Glee Club ofJersey City, 1889. 0: St. John’s Church, Providence, RI. , 1869— C = Compositions Warden of AGO 1920—21; Treasurer 1913—20. T: Privately in Providence, RI. BENJAMIN DWIGHT ALLEN. b. 1831 Sturbridge, ALFRED S. BAKER. d. 1897 New York, N.Y. C: Church music, piano music Mass.; d. 1914 Wellesley, Mass. EDWARD MORRIS BOWMAN, ARCO b. 1848 0: Union Congregational Church, Worcester, ATKINSON BALDWIN, FAGO b. 1862 SAMUEL Barnard, Vt.; d. 1913 Brooklyn, N.Y. Mass., 1857—94 Minn.; d. 1949 New York, N.Y. Lake City, 5: Wm. Mason, J.P. Morgan, Guilmant, Batiste Manhattan Congregational Church, New York, Conservatory 5: Merkel, Dresden 0: St. Louis N.Y. , 1902—1905 0: House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, Assistant, Trinity Church, New York, N.Y., T: New England Conservatory, 1871—76 Minn., 1878— Beloit College, 1894—1901 1867—68 Plymouth Church, Chicago, Ill. , 1885—89 New York Teachers College, 1902—1905 Peddie Memorial Baptist Church, Newark, N.J., Peoples Church, St. Paul, Minn. , 1889—95 c.1893 C: Songs, anthems Chapel of the Intercession, New York, N.Y., A founder of the Worcester Festivals in 1858. T: Founder and president, American College of 1895—1902 Music, 1884—93 NATHAN HALE ALLEN. b. 1848 Marion, Mass.; Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1902—11 Vassar College, 1895— d. 1925 Hartford, Conn. T: City College of New York, 1895— Wrote theory textbooks. 5: Haupt, in Berlin C: Anthems, songs, service music 0: Center Congregational Church, Hartford, Librarian of AGO 1900—1903; wrote a history of JOHN HYATT BREWER, Mus.D. , FAGO b. 1856 Brooklyn, N.Y.; d. 1931 Brooklyn, N.Y. Conn. , 1883—1906 AGO, 1946. 5: D. Buck, G. Whiting Piedmont Church, Worcester, Mass., 1906—11 HOMER NEWTON BARTLETT. b. 1846 Olive, 0: City Park Chapel, Brooklyn, N.Y. , 1871— T: In Hartford, Conn. , and New Bedford, Mass. N.Y.; d. 1920 Hoboken, N.J. Lafayette Ave. Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, C: Anthems, songs, organ music 5: SB. Mills, Max Braun, Jacobsen N.Y., 1881— A writer and editor who was working on a history 0: Madison Ave. Baptist Church, New York, N.Y.; Church of the Messiah, Clinton Ave. Congrega of music in Connecticut at the time of his death. others tional, Brooklyn, N.Y. GEORGE WHITFIELD ANDREWS, Mus.Doc. C: Anthems, cantata, opera, violin music T: Adelphi College, 1899—1906 b. 1861 Wayne, Ohio; d. 1932 Honolulu, Hawaii Member of AGO Council 1897—1900; later Vice C: Anthems, organ music, vocal music, cantatas, 5: Oberlin Conservatory; Rheinberger, Guilmant, President of NAO. orchestral music FPPRTTARV 1996 91 Succeeded Buck as director of Apollo Club 1903—. Director of Springfield Festival, Worcester Festival JOHN FRANK DONAHOE. b. 1856 Boston, Mass.; Member of AGO Council 1896—98; Warden 1899—. d. 1925 Boston, Mass. 1905—1908. 5: E. Thayer, G. Whiting WILLIAM SIDELL CHESTER. b. 1865, Englewood, 0: Holy Cross Cathedral, Boston, Mass., WILLIAM OTIS BREWSTER N.J. d. 1900 New York, N.Y. ; 1875—c.1891 In New York City, 1897. 5: Stevens Institute of Technology C: Organ music, masses 0: St. George’s Church, New York, N.Y., HENRY EYRE BROWN. b. 1846 New York, N.Y.; Was playing the organ at the Pan-American Expo 1888—1900 d. 1925, New York N.Y. sition when President McKinley was assassinated. 0: Anthon Memorial Church, New York, N.Y., C: Hymn tunes Member of AGO Council 1896—1900. 1861— FRANK GEORGE DOSSERT Member ofAGO National Council 1896—98; in New Plymouth Church, Brooklyn Tabernacle, Han- KATE SARA CHITTENDEN. b. 1856 Hamilton, son Place Methodist, and Clinton Ave. Congre York at this time. Ont. ; d. 1949 New York, N.Y. gational, Brooklyn, N.Y. 5: Helimuth College, London, Ont. LOUIS RAPHAEL DRESSLER, Mus.D. b. 1861 New Sang as a choirboy in Trinity Church, New York. 0: Calvary Baptist Church, New York, N.Y., York, N.Y. ; d. 1932 Jersey City, N.J. 1879—1906 0: All Souls Church, New York, N.Y. , 1877—92 DUDLEY BUCK. b. 1839 Hartford, Conn. ; d. 1909 Orange, N.J. T: Vassar College, 1890—c.1920 Choral conductor 5: Trinity College; Leipzig Conservatory; Schnei Stamford, Conn. , 1914— Head of church music department, Oliver Ditson der in Dresden C: Piano music, piano methods Co. , for 40 years. 0: North Congregational Church, Hartford, Conn., Founded Metropolitan College of Music, New Member of AGO Council 1896—1900. 1862— York. Librarian of AGO 1899—1900. HENRY E. DUNCAN St. James’ Church, Chicago, Ill. , 1867—71 In New York City in 1897. Boston, Mass. , 1872—75 St. Paul’s Church, SETH C. CLARK Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., In Buffalo, N.Y., in 1897. HENRY MORTON DUNHAM, FAGO b. 1853 1877—1902 Brockton, Mass.; d. 1929 Brockton, Mass. Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N.Y. , 1902—1903 WALTER J. CLEMSON, MA. b. England; d. 1945 5: New England Conservatory; G. Whiting, Paine T: New England Conservatory, 1872—74 Taunton, Mass. 0: Porter Congregational Church, Brockton, Mass., Metropolitan College of Music, 1885/88—99 0: St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Taunton, 1870—81, 1883—96 C: Organ music, anthems, solos, cantatas, opera, Mass., 1885—19?? Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Boston, Mass., organ methods T: Episcopal Theological Seminary (summer 1896—1906 Honorary President of AGO 1896—99. courses), 1915 Shawmut Congregational Church, Boston, Life Member of AGO in 1897; also honorary Vice JOHN D. BUCKINGHAM, b. 1855 Mass., 1906—1909 0: Immanuel Church, Roxbury, Mass. President. Harvard Congregational Church, Brookline, Inaugurated Clemson Anthem Prize in 1896. Channing Church, Newton, Mass. , 1892— Mass., 1910— St. Mark’s Methodist Church, Brookline, Mass., Dean of New England AGO Chapter, 1909—1918. T: New England Conservatory, 1880— c.1907 WILLIAM B. COLSON JR. Lasell Seminary Secretary of New England AGO Chapter in 1918.