Paul Callaway
Encyclopedia
Paul Smith Callaway was a prominent American
organist
and choral conductor, particularly well-known for his thirty-eight years at the Washington National Cathedral
, Washington, D.C.
, between 1939–1977. He was also active in opera
and was the founding musical director of the Opera Society of Washington in 1956, now the renowned Washington National Opera
. By the time of his death in 1995, he was acclaimed for his great influence on the musical life of the nation's capital.
, in 1909, Callaway attended Westminster College, Missouri
, and subsequently studied organ with T. Tertius Noble
(1930–1935), followed by studies with Leo Sowerby
at the American Conservatory of Music
in Chicago and then Marcel Dupré
in Paris. While pursuing his advanced studies, Callaway was organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas Chapel in New York (1930–1935) and later St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
(1935–1939).
in 1941. During World War II
, Callaway was drafted into the Army as a bandmaster
in the South Pacific., returning in May 1946. During his tenure at the Cathedral, Callaway expanded the music program's support of American liturgical music
and also oversaw considerable expansion of the organ in the 1950s–1970s as construction of the Cathedral's nave
was completed. He was quite short in stature, necessitating the installation of a custom-made adjustable pedalboard operated hydraulically so that the diminuative organist could comfortably reach the pedals of the Washington Cathedral's organ.
's ballet, The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore in 1956. At New York City's Riverside Church
in December 1962, he conducted the world premiere of John La Montaine
's religious opera Novellis Novellis about the Annunciation
.
Other La Montaine operas conducted by Callaway at their world premiers were The Shephardes Playe and Play of Herode. Callaway was the founding music director of the Washington National Opera
in 1956. He played the solo organ part in the world premiere of Samuel Barber
's Toccata Festiva in 1960 with the Philadelphia Orchestra
, conducted by Eugene Ormandy
.
On April 17, 1966, Callaway directed the 51-voice choir of the Washington National Cathedral at Westminster Abbey
in London. It was the first time an American choral group had sung there and an American flag was raised outside the Abbey for the occasion.
, the Canon Precentor. Washington Post
music critic Paul Hume
said of Callaway at the time, "It seems incontrovertible that he has had a larger influence on the musical life of this city than any other person". Callaway then served as organist and choirmaster at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Washington. He was a member of the Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes
in Washington, where his requiem
was held following his death from cancer on March 21, 1995. A memorial tuba rank was installed on the organ of the Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes in his memory.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and choral conductor, particularly well-known for his thirty-eight years at the Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, between 1939–1977. He was also active in opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and was the founding musical director of the Opera Society of Washington in 1956, now the renowned Washington National Opera
Washington National Opera
The Washington National Opera is an opera company in Washington, D.C., USA. Formerly the Opera Society of Washington and the Washington Opera, the company received Congressional designation as the National Opera Company in 2000. Performances are now given in the Opera House of the John F...
. By the time of his death in 1995, he was acclaimed for his great influence on the musical life of the nation's capital.
Early years and education
Born in Atlanta, IllinoisAtlanta, Illinois
Atlanta is a city in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,649 at the 2000 census, and 1,635 at a 2009 estimate.-Geography:Atlanta is located at ....
, in 1909, Callaway attended Westminster College, Missouri
Westminster College, Missouri
Westminster College is a private, selective, liberal arts institution in Fulton, Missouri, USA. It was founded by Presbyterians in 1849 as Fulton College and assumed the present name in 1851. The are located on the campus. The National Churchill Museum is a national historic site and includes...
, and subsequently studied organ with T. Tertius Noble
T. Tertius Noble
Thomas Tertius Noble was an English-born organist and composer, resident in the United States for the latter part of his career...
(1930–1935), followed by studies with Leo Sowerby
Leo Sowerby
Leo Sowerby , American composer and church musician, was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1946, and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid 20th century.-Biography:...
at the American Conservatory of Music
American Conservatory of Music
The American Conservatory of Music was a major American school of music founded in 1886 by John James Hattstaedt . The conservatory was incorporated as an Illinois non-profit corporation. It was located in Chicago until 1991 when its Board of Trustees — chaired by Frederic Wilbur Hickman...
in Chicago and then Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
in Paris. While pursuing his advanced studies, Callaway was organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas Chapel in New York (1930–1935) and later St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
(1935–1939).
At Washington National Cathedral
On September 1, 1939, Callaway became organist and choirmaster at the Washington National Cathedral, where he founded the Cathedral Choral SocietyCathedral Choral Society
The Cathedral Choral Society is a 200-voice symphonic chorus based at the Washington National Cathedral. J. Reilly Lewis has been music director since 1985. He succeeded Paul Callaway, who founded the group in 1941...
in 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Callaway was drafted into the Army as a bandmaster
Bandmaster
A bandmaster is the leader and conductor of a band, usually a military band, brass band or a marching band.-British Armed Forces:In the British Armed Forces, a Bandmaster is always a Warrant Officer Class 1 . A commissioned officer who leads a band is known as the Director of Music...
in the South Pacific., returning in May 1946. During his tenure at the Cathedral, Callaway expanded the music program's support of American liturgical music
Liturgical music
Liturgical music originated as a part of religious ceremony, and includes a number of traditions, both ancient and modern. Liturgical music is well known as a part of Catholic Mass, the Anglican Holy Communion service , the Lutheran Divine Service, the Orthodox liturgy and other Christian services...
and also oversaw considerable expansion of the organ in the 1950s–1970s as construction of the Cathedral's nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
was completed. He was quite short in stature, necessitating the installation of a custom-made adjustable pedalboard operated hydraulically so that the diminuative organist could comfortably reach the pedals of the Washington Cathedral's organ.
Notable appearances
In addition to his principal duties at the Cathedral, Callaway frequently served as a guest conductor at prominent venues. He was a guest conductor of Washington's National Symphony Orchestra and also conducted the world premiere of Gian Carlo MenottiGian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...
's ballet, The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore in 1956. At New York City's Riverside Church
Riverside Church
The Riverside Church in the City of New York is an interdenominational church in New York City, famous for its elaborate Neo-Gothic architecture—which includes the world's largest tuned carillon bell...
in December 1962, he conducted the world premiere of John La Montaine
John La Montaine
John La Montaine is an American composer, born in Oak Park, Illinois, who won the 1959 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his Piano Concerto no. 1, Op. 9, "In Time of War" , which was premiered by Jorge Bolet....
's religious opera Novellis Novellis about the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
.
Other La Montaine operas conducted by Callaway at their world premiers were The Shephardes Playe and Play of Herode. Callaway was the founding music director of the Washington National Opera
Washington National Opera
The Washington National Opera is an opera company in Washington, D.C., USA. Formerly the Opera Society of Washington and the Washington Opera, the company received Congressional designation as the National Opera Company in 2000. Performances are now given in the Opera House of the John F...
in 1956. He played the solo organ part in the world premiere of Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
's Toccata Festiva in 1960 with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, conducted by Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy was a Hungarian-born conductor and violinist.-Early life:Born Jenő Blau in Budapest, Hungary, Ormandy began studying violin at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music at the age of five...
.
On April 17, 1966, Callaway directed the 51-voice choir of the Washington National Cathedral at 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,...
in London. It was the first time an American choral group had sung there and an American flag was raised outside the Abbey for the occasion.
Works
Callaway's works include The Great Organ of Washington Cathedral, recorded in 1974, An hymne of heavenly love, composed in the late-1930s while at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids., and "Hark! the Glad Sound!" composed in December 1944 for the Cathedral Choral Society.Retirement and death
Upon Callaway's retirement as the Cathedral's third organist and choirmaster in 1977, he was succeeded by assistant organist Richard Wayne DirksenRichard Wayne Dirksen
Richard Wayne Dirksen was an American musician and composer, who served as Organist and Choirmaster of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., from 1977 to 1988. Previously he was Assistant Organist and Choirmaster from 1942 to 1964...
, the Canon Precentor. Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
music critic Paul Hume
Paul Hume
Paul Chandler Hume was the music editor for the Washington Post from 1946 to 1982.-Career:...
said of Callaway at the time, "It seems incontrovertible that he has had a larger influence on the musical life of this city than any other person". Callaway then served as organist and choirmaster at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Washington. He was a member of the Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes
Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes
The Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes is an historic Episcopal church building located at 1215 Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest Washington, D.C., USA. The current structure built in 1874 as the Church of the Ascension was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In the...
in Washington, where his requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
was held following his death from cancer on March 21, 1995. A memorial tuba rank was installed on the organ of the Church of the Ascension and Saint Agnes in his memory.