Ebenezer Beesley
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Beesley was a Latter-day Saint hymn
writer and composer. The music for twelve of the hymns in the 1985 English-language hymnal
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by him.
Beesley was born in Bicester
, Oxfordshire
, England
. His parents joined the LDS Church when he was quite young and he was baptized
a member of the church on September 22, 1849.
In 1859, Beesley emigrated to Utah Territory
in the George Rowley Handcart Company with his family, including first wife Sarah Hancock Beesley. They first lived in Tooele, Utah
, but later they moved to Salt Lake City. In the 19th Ward in Salt Lake City, Beesley served as both choir director and music director for Sunday School
. He studied under George Careless
. In 1863, Beesley joined the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra, where he played the violin
.
Beesley was a contributor to the Juvenile Instructor
magazine. He also was one of the men appointed by John Taylor to oversee the publication of the Latter-day Saints' Psalmody, which was the first LDS Church hymnbook to include music.
In 1880, Beesley became the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
. In September of that year, Beesley led the choir's first excursion outside of Salt Lake City on a trip to American Fork, Utah
where they performed with the local choir for a large group of citizens. Beesley served as the choir director until 1889.
After serving with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Beesley taught in Tooele and then for a time in Lehi, Utah
. He then moved back to Salt Lake City where he died.
In the 1985 LDS Church hymnal
the music for the following hymns was composed by Beesley:
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
writer and composer. The music for twelve of the hymns in the 1985 English-language hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by him.
Beesley was born in Bicester
Bicester
Bicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham and...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His parents joined the LDS Church when he was quite young and he was baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
a member of the church on September 22, 1849.
In 1859, Beesley emigrated to Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
in the George Rowley Handcart Company with his family, including first wife Sarah Hancock Beesley. They first lived in Tooele, Utah
Tooele, Utah
Tooele is a city in Tooele County in the U.S. state of Utah. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 22,502 at the 2000 census, and 30,708 as of the 2009 estimates. It is the county seat of Tooele County...
, but later they moved to Salt Lake City. In the 19th Ward in Salt Lake City, Beesley served as both choir director and music director for Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
. He studied under George Careless
George Careless
George Edward Percy Careless was a prominent Latter-day Saint composer and conductor.Careless was born in London, England. As a child he studied at the Royal Academy in London...
. In 1863, Beesley joined the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra, where he played the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
.
Beesley was a contributor to the Juvenile Instructor
Juvenile Instructor
The Juvenile Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1901 and 1930. It was first published in 1866 as a private publication...
magazine. He also was one of the men appointed by John Taylor to oversee the publication of the Latter-day Saints' Psalmody, which was the first LDS Church hymnbook to include music.
In 1880, Beesley became the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
. In September of that year, Beesley led the choir's first excursion outside of Salt Lake City on a trip to American Fork, Utah
American Fork, Utah
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,263 at the 2010 census, nearly a 20% growth since the 2000 census...
where they performed with the local choir for a large group of citizens. Beesley served as the choir director until 1889.
After serving with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Beesley taught in Tooele and then for a time in Lehi, Utah
Lehi, Utah
-Attractions:Lehi Roller MillsLehi Roller Mills was founded in 1906 by a co-op of farmers. George G. Robinson purchased the mill in 1910, and since then it has remained in the family. It is run today by grandson R. Sherman Robinson....
. He then moved back to Salt Lake City where he died.
In the 1985 LDS Church hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
the music for the following hymns was composed by Beesley:
- 5 "High on a Mountain Top"
- 16 "What Glorious Scenes Mine Eyes Behold"
- 32 "The Happy Day At Last Has Come"
- 76 "God of Our Fathers, We Come unto Thee"
- 77 "Great Is the Lord"
- 156 "Sing We Now at Parting"
- 177 "Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love" Tune name=Hancock
- 185 "Reverently and Meekly Now"
- 232 "Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words"
- 280 "Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning"
- 282 "We Meet Again in Sabbath School"