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Leo sowerby eternal light
Leo Salkeld Sowerby (May 1, 1895 – July 7, 1968), 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.
Leo Sowerby, son of Florence Gertrude Salkeld and John Sowerby, was born on May 1, 1895, in Grand Rapids, Michigan (Anon. 1900), where he began to compose at the age of ten. His interest in the organ began at the age of 15, he was self-taught at the instrument. He studied composition with Arthur Olaf Andersen at the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago (Gleason n.d.). Early recognition came when his Violin Concerto was premiered in 1913 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Stalford & Meckna 2001). He spent time in France during World War I in the role of bandmaster (Gleason n.d.). In 1921 he was awarded the Rome Prize (from the American Academy in Rome), the first composer to receive this. He joined the American Conservatory of Music as faculty in 1924 (Gleason n.d.). In addition he received the 1946 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his cantata, the Canticle of the Sun, written in 1944 (Stalford & Meckna 2001; Anon. n.d.)
In 1927 he became organist-choirmaster at St James’s Episcopal Church, Chicago, which was consecrated as a cathedral while he was there (1955). Previously, Sowerby was associate organist at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago (1919).
In 1962, after his retirement from St James’s, he was called to Washington National Cathedral to become the founding director of the College of Church Musicians, a position he held until his death in 1968 (Stalford & Meckna 2001). He died in Port Clinton, Ohio, while at Camp Wa-Li-Ro, in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, the summer choir camp where he had taught for many years. He is buried in the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., United States (Tipton 2012).
His substantial output includes over 500 works in every genre but opera and ballet (Stalford & Meckna 2001). His later works, done at St James's, Chicago, and Washington Cathedral, are primarily church music for choir and organ. For Sowerby's notable pupils See: List of music students by teacher: R to S#Leo Sowerby.
"Impressions: Music for Piano" (Suites: "Florida" and "From the Northland" Folksong and Country Dance Tunes: "Three Folk-tunes from Somerset", "Money Musk", "Fisherman's Tune", "The Irish Washerwoman: A Country Dance Tune", "L'Amour Di Quei Due (The Two Lovers): A Milanese Popular Song") - Malcolm Halliday, pianist [1]: (Troy 226), Albany: Troy Records, 1997 Records
My Love Unspoken (21 songs), (Troy 196), Albany: Troy Records, 1996 (with Robert Osborne, bass-baritone, and Malcolm Halliday, pianist; John Yaffé, producer).
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes - The Roberts Wesleyan College Chorale & Roberts Wesleyan Brass Ensemble, Robert Shewan, conductor - (Troy 238), Albany NY: Troy Records, 1997
Leo Sowerby: American Master of Sacred Song - Gloriae Dei Cantores, Elizabeth Patterson, conductor; David Chalmers, James E. Jordan, jr., organists - Orleans MA: Paraclete Press, (GDCD 016), 1994
Organ Music of Leo Sowerby (Symphony in G, Requiescat in pace, Fantasy for Flute Stops) - Catharine Crozier, organ - Chatsworth CA: Delos International, (D/CD 3075), 1988
Leo Sowerby: Works for Organ and Orchestra (Classic Concerto, Medieval Poem, Pageant, Festival Music) - David Craighead, David Mulbury, organ; The Fairfield Orchestra, John Welsh, conductor - NAXOS 8.559028
Violin & Organ, The Murray/Lohuis Duo (Poem) - Robert Murray, Violin, Ardyth Lohuis, organ - Richmond, VA: Raven Recordings, (OAR 200), 1991
Rondo, Works for Violin & Organ, Vo. 2 (Ballade) - Robert Murray, Violin, Ardyth Lohuis, organ - Richmond, VA: Raven Recordings, (OAR 230), 1993
Leo Sowerby: Music for Violin and Piano (Sonata in B-Flat, H165; Sonata in D, H 367; Two American Pieces, H 174) - Robert Murray, Violin; Gail Quillman, Piano - New York, NY: Premier Recordings, Inc., (PRCD 1049), 1995
All American, Works for Violin and Organ, Volume 5 (Elevation, H 66) - Robert Murray, Violin, Ardyth Lohuis, organ - Richmond, VA: Raven Recordings, (OAR 650), 2003