Amzi Chapin
Encyclopedia
Amzi Chapin was a cabinetmaker
, singing-school
teacher shapenote and composer
.
He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts
into a family of cabinet-makers. He was the son of Edward Chapin (1724–1800) of Chicopee MA, younger brother of Aaron Chapin and Lucius, and the second cousin of Eliphant Chapin (1741–1805). The family is claimed to be of Welsh
descent.
Chapin worked in Hartford, Connecticut
from 1788 until 1791, when he moved to New Haven
. Thereafter he embarked on a career as an itinerant singing teacher, composer and cabinetmaker in the South
and Midwest
.
Chapin married Hannah Power, daughter of Rev. James Power, on 10 October 1800 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
, where he taught and farmed for the next thirty years. They had seven children including five daughters named Jane, Eunice, Eliza, Rebecca and Hannah.
In 1831 the Chapins and their children's families moved to Northfield, Ohio
in 1831. Chapin was one of the pioneers of Northfield Township, and one of the four founders of the Presbyterian congregation there. He died there on 19 February 1835.
and North Carolina
, before moving to Kentucky
and then Pennsylvania
. He was a proponent of Andrew Law
's four-note method of shapenote notation. Amzi's elder brother Lucius (1760–1842) was also a singing teacher, and the two were apparently among the first to teach sacred music west of the Allegheny Mountains
. The well-known tune "Primrose" (47t in the Sacred Harp
) is by Amzi Chapin, while Lucius contributes "Vernon" (95) and the Ninety-Third Psalm (31t). "Olney" and "Rockingham" (63 and 300b in the Southern Harmony
) are credited to "Chapin".
Cabinet making
Cabinet making is the practice of using various woodworking skills to create cabinets, shelving and furniture.Cabinet making involves techniques such as creating appropriate joints, dados, bevels, chamfers and shelving systems, the use of finishing tools such as routers to create decorative...
, singing-school
Singing school
Historically, singing schools have been strongly affiliated with Protestant Christianity. Some are held under the auspices of particular Protestant denominations that maintain a tradition of a cappella singing, such as the Church of Christ and the Primitive Baptists...
teacher shapenote and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
into a family of cabinet-makers. He was the son of Edward Chapin (1724–1800) of Chicopee MA, younger brother of Aaron Chapin and Lucius, and the second cousin of Eliphant Chapin (1741–1805). The family is claimed to be of Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
descent.
Chapin worked in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
from 1788 until 1791, when he moved to New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. Thereafter he embarked on a career as an itinerant singing teacher, composer and cabinetmaker in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
.
Chapin married Hannah Power, daughter of Rev. James Power, on 10 October 1800 in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It stands 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people...
, where he taught and farmed for the next thirty years. They had seven children including five daughters named Jane, Eunice, Eliza, Rebecca and Hannah.
In 1831 the Chapins and their children's families moved to Northfield, Ohio
Northfield, Ohio
Northfield is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,827 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Northfield is located at ....
in 1831. Chapin was one of the pioneers of Northfield Township, and one of the four founders of the Presbyterian congregation there. He died there on 19 February 1835.
Music
Chapin taught singing schools in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, before moving to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and then Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was a proponent of Andrew Law
Andrew Law
Andrew Law was an American composer, preacher and singing teacher. He was born in Milford, Connecticut. Law wrote mostly simple hymn tunes, and arranged tunes of other composers. His works include Select Harmony and a Collection of Best Tunes and Anthems...
's four-note method of shapenote notation. Amzi's elder brother Lucius (1760–1842) was also a singing teacher, and the two were apparently among the first to teach sacred music west of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. The well-known tune "Primrose" (47t in the Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
) is by Amzi Chapin, while Lucius contributes "Vernon" (95) and the Ninety-Third Psalm (31t). "Olney" and "Rockingham" (63 and 300b in the Southern Harmony
Southern Harmony
The Southern Harmony is a shape note hymn and tune book compiled by William Walker. The book was released in 1835 under the full title of The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note singing....
) are credited to "Chapin".