Luther Whiting Mason
Encyclopedia
Luther Whiting Mason was an American
music educator who was hired by the Meiji period
government of Japan as a foreign advisor
to introduce Western classical music
into the Japanese educational curriculum
.
, Maine
. He worked as a music teacher for many years, in Louisville
(1852-55), followed by Cincinnati, Ohio
(1856-64), and Boston, Massachusetts (1864-79). In addition to teaching, Mason collected songs, wrote textbooks, and promoted their publication. His teaching method made use of charts and what he called "ladders," to explain scales, staffs, clef
s, note values, intervals, and dynamics.
While in Boston, he was scouted by the Japanese Ministry of Education on the recommendation of one of his former pupils, Izawa Shuji in 1872.
During his stay in Japan at Tokyo Imperial University from 1880-1882, Mason and Izawa worked together to develop programs for the teaching of music in elementary and middle schools, developing teacher training programs, and creating the first graded series of music textbooks in Japan. He also laid the foundation for a national music conservatory, the Tokyo Ongaku Gakkō, now part of the Tokyo University of the Arts. He also imported piano
s and other western orchestral instruments, and made efforts to “improve” Japanese musical taste by encouraging study of harmony and popular western tunes.
Although Mason expressed a strong desire to remain in Japan, his contract was not renewed, largely due to budgetary reasons.
Mason later made four trips to Europe, visiting Germany
, France
, Italy
, Spain
, Norway
, Sweden
and England
, observing teaching methods and collecting hundreds of music books.
Whiting died in Buckfield, Maine
on 14 July 1896 at the age of 78.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music educator who was hired by the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
government of Japan as a foreign advisor
O-yatoi gaikokujin
The Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan, known in Japanese as oyatoi gaikokujin , were those foreign advisors hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji era. The term is sometimes...
to introduce Western classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
into the Japanese educational curriculum
Education in Japan
In Japan, education is compulsory at the elementary and lower secondary levels. Approximately 98% of all students progress to the upper secondary level, which is voluntary . Most students attend public schools through the lower secondary level, but private education is popular at the upper...
.
Biography
Mason was born in TurnerTurner, Maine
Turner is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,972 at the 2000 census. Turner includes the villages of Turner Center and North Turner...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. He worked as a music teacher for many years, in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
(1852-55), followed by Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
(1856-64), and Boston, Massachusetts (1864-79). In addition to teaching, Mason collected songs, wrote textbooks, and promoted their publication. His teaching method made use of charts and what he called "ladders," to explain scales, staffs, clef
Clef
A clef is a musical symbol used to indicate the pitch of written notes. Placed on one of the lines at the beginning of the staff, it indicates the name and pitch of the notes on that line. This line serves as a reference point by which the names of the notes on any other line or space of the staff...
s, note values, intervals, and dynamics.
While in Boston, he was scouted by the Japanese Ministry of Education on the recommendation of one of his former pupils, Izawa Shuji in 1872.
During his stay in Japan at Tokyo Imperial University from 1880-1882, Mason and Izawa worked together to develop programs for the teaching of music in elementary and middle schools, developing teacher training programs, and creating the first graded series of music textbooks in Japan. He also laid the foundation for a national music conservatory, the Tokyo Ongaku Gakkō, now part of the Tokyo University of the Arts. He also imported piano
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...
s and other western orchestral instruments, and made efforts to “improve” Japanese musical taste by encouraging study of harmony and popular western tunes.
Although Mason expressed a strong desire to remain in Japan, his contract was not renewed, largely due to budgetary reasons.
Mason later made four trips to Europe, visiting Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and 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...
, observing teaching methods and collecting hundreds of music books.
Whiting died in Buckfield, Maine
Buckfield, Maine
Buckfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. Buckfield is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area. It is a member of Maine School Administrative District 39 along with nearby Hartford and Sumner...
on 14 July 1896 at the age of 78.