Composer. He received world-wide notoriety as an award-winning American composer of the 20th century. He received the 1946 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his cantata, the “Canticle of the Sun,” which was written in 1944. He composed over 500 pieces of various genre but not opera or ballet. Early in his career, he was known for his orchestral and chamber pieces. Later, while at St. James' Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois and the Washington Cathedral, he composed mainly church music for choirs. He began to compose at the age of ten. He was self-taught on the organ. Early recognition came when his violin concerto was premiered in 1913 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 1921 he was awarded the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the first composer to receive this prestigious award. In 1927 he became organist-choirmaster at St James's Episcopal Church, Chicago, which was consecrated as a cathedral while he was there in 1955. It was during his time there that he did most of his work and gained his international reputation. In 1962, after his retirement from St James', 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, which was suddenly at a summer choir camp in Ohio. His ashes were eventually interred n the Columbarium of the Washington National Cathedral. He was often called the “Dean of American church music.” He produced at least ten recorded albums.
Composer. He received world-wide notoriety as an award-winning American composer of the 20th century. He received the 1946 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his cantata, the “Canticle of the Sun,” which was written in 1944. He composed over 500 pieces of various genre but not opera or ballet. Early in his career, he was known for his orchestral and chamber pieces. Later, while at St. James' Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois and the Washington Cathedral, he composed mainly church music for choirs. He began to compose at the age of ten. He was self-taught on the organ. Early recognition came when his violin concerto was premiered in 1913 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 1921 he was awarded the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the first composer to receive this prestigious award. In 1927 he became organist-choirmaster at St James's Episcopal Church, Chicago, which was consecrated as a cathedral while he was there in 1955. It was during his time there that he did most of his work and gained his international reputation. In 1962, after his retirement from St James', 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, which was suddenly at a summer choir camp in Ohio. His ashes were eventually interred n the Columbarium of the Washington National Cathedral. He was often called the “Dean of American church music.” He produced at least ten recorded albums.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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