He was an organist, composer and author born in Seabright, New Jersey, who studied at Yale University and took his further musical education in Paris with tutors that included Vincent d’Indy and Louis Vierne.
He returned to the United States and from 1911 to 1924 he was the organist of two New York churches; the Church of Incarnation and Rutgers Presbyterian Church; and during WWI he was a member of the Naval Reserve.
In 1924 he relocated to Philadelphia where he spent the next 14 years as organist of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and from 1938 he settled in California where he played the organ at the First Presbyterian Church, Santa Monica, for the next 20 years until his death.
As a composer he wrote two symphonies for organ and several other organ works and his arrangement of the French Christmas melody he entitled “Gloria” is heard regularly today as the musical accompaniment for the Christmas Carol “Angels We Have Heard on High”.
His work as an author included the publication of The School of Organ Playing in 1921. He died aged 70 in 1958 in Idyllwild, California.
Angels We Have Heard on High recordings
Arch Brass Quintet
AB 9401 (CD: We Wish You a Merry Christmas)
Arturo Delmoni
John Marks Records JMR 12 (CD: Rejoice!)
Violin – Arturo Delmoni
Violin – Alexander Romanul
Viola – Katherine Murdock
Cello – Nathaniel Rosen
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Telarc 80087 (CD: The Many Moods of Christmas)
Conductor – Robert Shaw
Chicago Symphony Low Brass Ensemble
VOX 7501 (CD: Christmas with the Symphony Brass of Chicago)
Conductor – Barry Faldner
Craig Duncan and David Schnaufer
Brentwood CD-5089J (CD: A Smoky Mountain Christmas)
Hammered Dulcimer and Fiddle – Craig Duncan
Mountain Dulcimer – David Schnaufer
Nicolas Esterhazy Sinfonia
Naxos 8 550670 (CD: Christmas Goes Baroque 2)
Percy Faith and His Orchestra
Columbia /Legacy CK 65401 (CD: Music of Christmas Vol. 2)
Deborah Henson-Conant
Golden Cage (CD: The Gift)
Harp– Deborah Henson-Conant
Holiday Brass
Music Masters 01782 (CD: Holiday Brass featuring Susan Slaughter)
Trumpet – Susan Slaughter
St. Louis Children’s Choirs – Concert Choir
Gregg Smith Singers
Sony 66300 (CD: Voices of Christmas)
Gregg Smith Singers
Texas Boys Choir
Organ- E. Power Biggs
Arranger –Robert De Cormier
New Philharmonia Orchestra
London 421-095 (CD: Joy of Christmas)
Conductor – Richard Bonynge
Soprano – Joan Sutherland
Ambrosian Singers
Oklahoma Woodwind Quintet
Integra IMCD 801 (CD: A Christmas Delight)
Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
CBS MK 7033 (CD: A Festival of Carols in Brass)
Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus
RCA 6430 (CD: Joy to the World)
Conductor – Eugene Ormandy
Robert Shaw Chamber Singers
Telarc 80377 (CD: Songs of Angels)
Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
RCA 6429 (CD: A Festival of Carols)
Ayako Shinozaki
Sony Classical SFK 62677 (CD: Silent Night/Beautiful Melodies of Christmas)
Harp – Ayako Shinozaki
St. Louis Cathedral Choir
MusicMasters MM20047
Organ – John Romeri
Roger Wagner Chorale
Capitol CDP 7 94688-2 (CD: Joy to the World)
Joemy Wilson
Dargason Music DMCD 103 (CD: Gifts: Traditional Christmas Carols
Hammer Dulcimer – Joemy Wilson
Tim Zimmerman & The King’s Brass
Track Records CD625 (CD: Tim Zimmerman & the King’s Brass)
Director – Tim Zimmerman
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