Lorin F. Wheelwright
Encyclopedia
Lorin F. Wheelwright was an American
Latter-day Saint hymn
writer, composer, musical instructor and educator.
Wheelwright was the son of David S. Wheelwright and Valborg Rasmussen. His mother was an immigrant from Denmark
. Wheelwright was the younger brother of D. Sterling Wheelwright
, who was one of his early music teachers. He was raised in a Latter-day Saint home where hymn singing was common. While still young he was a Sunday School
pianist
, and then ward choir pianist in the Ogden
12th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Wheelwright studied under Edward P. Kimball
and Alexander Schreiner
. He then studied at Columbia University
and the Juilliard School of Music. He received a master's degree
from the University of Chicago
and a Ph.D.
from Columbia University
.
Wheelwright succeeded J. Spencer Cornwall
as the head of music education for the Salt Lake Public Schools. He also taught at Oswego Teachers College in New York
. He was also a professor at Branch Agricultural College
. After retiring as an educator Wheelwright formed a publishing company.
From 1956 until at least 1971 Wheelwright served as a member of the Sunday School General Board of the LDS Church. He also served for a time as associate editor of The Instructor
, the LDS Church's Sunday School magazine before the consolidation of church magazines in 1971.
In 1967, Wheelwright became the dean
of the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications
(Brigham Young University
). In 1969, Wheelwright started the Mormon Arts Festival. In 1973, he was succeeded by Lael J. Woodbury as the dean and was made a special assistant to BYU President Dallin H. Oaks
.
Among the hymns that Wheelwright wrote are "O Love That Glorifies the Son", "Help Me Teach With Inspiration" and "Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee". He also wrote the words and music to "Come, All Ye Saints and Sing His Praise", which is not in the 1985 English
edition of the LDS Church hymnal
but was in previous editions.
Wheelwright wrote the words and music of the two-part Christmas anthem "Star Bright" (Estrella de Luz) with words in English and Spanish, and accompaniment for guitar and keyboard.
Wheelwright also wrote "Mother I Love You", a song in the Primary Children's Songbook
. He also edited and published an autobiography of his mother.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Latter-day Saint hymn
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, composer, musical instructor and educator.
Wheelwright was the son of David S. Wheelwright and Valborg Rasmussen. His mother was an immigrant from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Wheelwright was the younger brother of D. Sterling Wheelwright
D. Sterling Wheelwright
D. Sterling Wheelwright was an assistant conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir under J. Spencer Cornwall. He was the older brother of Lorin F. Wheelwright....
, who was one of his early music teachers. He was raised in a Latter-day Saint home where hymn singing was common. While still young he was a 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:...
pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and then ward choir pianist in the Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
12th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Wheelwright studied under Edward P. Kimball
Edward P. Kimball
Edward P. Kimball was an American organist of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a Latter-day Saint hymn writer.In 1898 Kimball was appointed music teacher at the Beaver Branch of Brigham Young Academy...
and Alexander Schreiner
Alexander Schreiner
Alexander Schreiner was one of the most noted organists of the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He also wrote the music to several LDS hymns, several of which are in the current edition of the hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:Alexander Ferdinand Schreiner was born on...
. He then studied at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and the Juilliard School of Music. He received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Wheelwright succeeded J. Spencer Cornwall
J. Spencer Cornwall
Joseph Spencer Cornwall was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory....
as the head of music education for the Salt Lake Public Schools. He also taught at Oswego Teachers College in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was also a professor at Branch Agricultural College
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
. After retiring as an educator Wheelwright formed a publishing company.
From 1956 until at least 1971 Wheelwright served as a member of the Sunday School General Board of the LDS Church. He also served for a time as associate editor of The Instructor
The Instructor
The Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1930 and 1970, during which It was the official organ of the LDS Church's Sunday School auxiliary....
, the LDS Church's Sunday School magazine before the consolidation of church magazines in 1971.
In 1967, Wheelwright became the dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications
BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications
BYU College of Fine Arts and CommunicationsThe College of Fine Arts and Communications is one of nine colleges at Brigham Young University, a private university operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and located in Provo, Utah...
(Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
). In 1969, Wheelwright started the Mormon Arts Festival. In 1973, he was succeeded by Lael J. Woodbury as the dean and was made a special assistant to BYU President Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin Harris Oaks is an American attorney, jurist, author, professor, public speaker, and religious leader. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.
Among the hymns that Wheelwright wrote are "O Love That Glorifies the Son", "Help Me Teach With Inspiration" and "Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee". He also wrote the words and music to "Come, All Ye Saints and Sing His Praise", which is not in the 1985 English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
edition of the 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 ....
but was in previous editions.
Wheelwright wrote the words and music of the two-part Christmas anthem "Star Bright" (Estrella de Luz) with words in English and Spanish, and accompaniment for guitar and keyboard.
Wheelwright also wrote "Mother I Love You", a song in the Primary Children's Songbook
Children's Songbook
The Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English in 1989...
. He also edited and published an autobiography of his mother.