J. W. Bischoff

J. W. Bischoff
Short Name: J. W. Bischoff
Full Name: Bischoff, J. W. (John W.) 1850-1909
Birth Year: 1850
Death Year: 1909

John W. Bischoff was born in 1849, became blind at the age of two years, came to the Congregational Church as organist and choir-director at the age of twenty-five, and remained thirty-five years up to the date of his death on Memorial Day, May 30, 1909. He was a prolific composer, most of his work being of the lyric style. In his first book, Crystal Songs, compiled in 1877 with the assistance of Otis F. Presbrey, there are thirty-two tunes of his compoistion. During many years of his service he provided music loves with a series of monthly concerts, at which a high grade of music was rendered.

American writers and compilers of sacred music by Frank J. Metcalf (New York; Cincinnati: Abingdon Press, 1925)

Wikipedia Biography

John W. Bischoff (27 November 1850 in Chicago – May 30, 1909 in Washington, DC) was a blind musician and composer. Blind from age two, Bischoff went on to become a noted organist, compiler of musical collections, and composer. His compilations included a significant number of his own works, and include Gospel Bells (1883), God Be With You (1880) and Not Half Has Been Told (1877). He was the principal organist at the first Congregational Church in Washington from 1874 until his death in 1909. At his death, he was married to Elisie Bond Bischoff, who was also a musician.

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