Henry Russell (December 24, 1812 – December 8, 1900) Henry Russell was born in Sheerness, Kent, in the South of England, during the year 1812. Russell was a pianist, singer and composer. He was born into a Jewish family, and was dedicated to music from a very young age, and started learning piano from the
Frederic Woodman Root (June 13, 1846 – November 8, 1916) Frederic Woodman Root was born in Boston in 1846, son of George Root, a well known songwriter at the time. His mother, Mary Olive Root, was also a famous singer, thus, Root grew up surrounded by music. At just 5 years old, his father had
George Frederick Root (August 30, 1820 – August 6, 1895) George Frederick Root was an influential songwriter, born in August 1820, in Sheffield, Massachusetts. His work mainly focused on issues regarding the American Civil War. As a young boy, Root trained on piano under the guidance of George J. Webb, and also studied the flute alongside this.
Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) Victor August Herbert was born on the island of Gurnsey in 1859. He was an American born composer of Irish ancestry. Herbert began his musical career at the age of 15, learning instruments such as the piano and piccolo. He then decided to settle on the
This is excerpt from John Hill Hewitt‘s book Shadows on the Wall or, Glimpses of the Past, where he talks about Anthony Philip Heinrich and their relationship. Father Heinrich. The eccentric Anthony Philip Heinrich, generally known as “Father Heinrich,” visited Washington while I resided in that city, with a grand musical work of his, illustrative
William Shakespeare Hays (July 19, 1837 – July 23, 1907) Newcomers to the poetry and songwriting of William Shakespeare Hays might rightly question how a boy born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1837 came to be named in such a way. They would then learn that it was not parental humour, but literary prowess which earned
Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864) The history of western music in the 19th Century includes many chapters on great European composers who sadly died “too young”. Enormous fascination exists for Mozart, Schubert, Chopin and Mendelssohn, none of whom saw their fortieth birthdays. However, whilst the music of these Austrian, Polish
Philip Paul Bliss (July 9, 1838 – December 29, 1876) It was fifty years after the death of Charles Wesley, generally recognized as the greatest writer of hymns the world had seen, that Philip Paul Bliss was born in very humble surroundings in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. This young boy, who spent his first six years
Carrie Jacobs-Bond (August 11, 1862 – December 28, 1946) Alongside a large catalogue of popular music which delighted both audiences and fellow musicians, Carrie Jacobs-Bond is perhaps best remembered (and rightly celebrated) for having overcome tremendous hardships, tragedies and professional difficulties. She would eventually become the most successful female composer in her field and managed
Anthony Philip Heinrich (March 11, 1781 – May 3, 1861) Few 19th Century composers built such musical bridges between Europe and the United States as Anthony Philip Heinrich. Born in Bohemia (the modern day Czech Republic) in 1781 he enjoyed a comfortable upbringing and early adulthood, having inherited several businesses fro m an uncle. Unfortunately