Henry Wellington Greatorex
Encyclopedia
Henry Wellington Greatorex (1816 – September 1853) was a musician, born in Burton upon Trent
, England
, and died in Charleston, South Carolina
. In 1849, he married the artist Eliza Pratt
.
, who was for many years organist of Westminster Abbey
, and conductor of the London "concerts of ancient music." He came to the United States in 1839. Prior to settling in New York City
as a teacher of music and organist at Calvary Church
, he played at churches in Hartford, Connecticut
, including Center Church and St. John's Episcopal Church (West Hartford, Connecticut)
, when that parish was located in the adjacent city. Greatorex frequently sang in concerts and oratorios. For some years he was organist and conductor of the choir at St. Paul's chapel. Greatorex did much to advance the standard of sacred music in the days when country singing-school teachers imposed their trivial melodies and the convivial measures of foreign composers on the texts of our hymn-books. He published a "Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Chants, Anthems, and Sentences" (Boston, 1851).
One of Greatorex's best-known compositions is a setting of the Gloria Patri, widely used in Protestant denominations for the singing of the doxology
in services to this day.
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, 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...
, and died in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. In 1849, he married the artist Eliza Pratt
Eliza Pratt Greatorex
Eliza Pratt Greatorex , artist, born in Manor Hamilton, Ireland, was the daughter of Reverend James Calcott Pratt, and came to New York in 1840, where in 1849 she married Henry Wellington Greatorex.-Career:...
.
Career
He received a thorough musical education from his father, Thomas GreatorexThomas Greatorex
Thomas Greatorex was an English composer, astronomer and mathematician. As well as being organist of Westminster Abbey, he was a Fellow of the Royal Society.-Career:...
, who was for many years organist of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, and conductor of the London "concerts of ancient music." He came to the United States in 1839. Prior to settling in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a teacher of music and organist at Calvary Church
Calvary Church (Manhattan)
Calvary Church is an Episcopal church located at 273 Park Avenue South on the corner of East 21st Street in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on the border of the Flatiron District. It was designed by James Renwick, Jr., the architect who designed St. Patrick's Cathedral...
, he played at churches 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...
, including Center Church and St. John's Episcopal Church (West Hartford, Connecticut)
St. John's Episcopal Church (West Hartford, Connecticut)
St. John's Episcopal Church, West Hartford, Connecticut, is located at 679 Farmington Avenue near the Hartford, Connecticut, city line. The parish was founded in 1841 as St. John's Episcopal Church . The church's present building, designed by famed architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, opened in 1909...
, when that parish was located in the adjacent city. Greatorex frequently sang in concerts and oratorios. For some years he was organist and conductor of the choir at St. Paul's chapel. Greatorex did much to advance the standard of sacred music in the days when country singing-school teachers imposed their trivial melodies and the convivial measures of foreign composers on the texts of our hymn-books. He published a "Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Chants, Anthems, and Sentences" (Boston, 1851).
One of Greatorex's best-known compositions is a setting of the Gloria Patri, widely used in Protestant denominations for the singing of the doxology
Doxology
A doxology is a short hymn of praises to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns...
in services to this day.
External links
- Free scores at the Mutopia ProjectMutopia projectThe Mutopia Project is a volunteer-run effort to create a library of free content sheet music, in a way similar to Project Gutenberg's library of public domain books.The music is reproduced from old scores that are out of copyright...