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William J. Kirkpatrick

1838 - 1921 Person Name: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921 Arranger of "LANDÅS" in Community of Christ Sings William J. Kirkpatrick (b. Duncannon, PA, 1838; d. Philadelphia, PA, 1921) received his musical training from his father and several other private teachers. A carpenter by trade, he engaged in the furniture business from 1862 to 1878. He left that profession to dedicate his life to music, serving as music director at Grace Methodist Church in Philadelphia. Kirkpatrick compiled some one hundred gospel song collections; his first, Devotional Melodies (1859), was published when he was only twenty-one years old. Many of these collections were first published by the John Hood Company and later by Kirkpatrick's own Praise Publishing Company, both in Philadelphia. Bert Polman

William Croft

1678 - 1727 Person Name: William Croft, 1678-1727 Composer of "ST. MATTHEW" in Hymns of the Saints William Croft, Mus. Doc. was born in the year 1677 and received his musical education in the Chapel Royal, under Dr. Blow. In 1700 he was admitted a Gentleman Extraordinary of the Chapel Boyd; and in 1707, upon the decease of Jeremiah Clarke, he was appointed joint organist with his mentor, Dr. Blow. In 1709 he was elected organist of Westminster Abbey. This amiable man and excellent musician died in 1727, in the fiftieth year of his age. A very large number of Dr. Croft's compositions remain still in manuscript. Cathedral chants of the XVI, XVII & XVIII centuries, ed. by Edward F. Rimbault, London: D. Almaine & Co., 1844

André Grétry

1741 - 1813 Person Name: André Grétry, 1741-1813 Composer of "LANDÅS" in Community of Christ Sings Andre Ernest Modeste Gretry Belgium/France 1741-1813. Born at Liege, Belgium, his father was a poor musician. He was a choirboy at the Church of St. Denis in Liege. He studied under Jean-pantaleon Leclerc and later organist Nicolas Rennekin for keyboard and composition. He then studied under music master, Henri Moreau, at the collegiate church of St. Paul. He attended Italian opera performances by various masters and became interested in furthering his studies in Italy. He was financed to attend the College of Liege in Rome for five years, studying under Giovanni Battista Casali. He married painter, Jeanne-Marie Grandon. He began writing operas, devoting himself to French comic opera. In 1767 he left Rome and went to Geneva, Switzerland, where he met Voltaire, and produced another operetta, then went to Paris. He was not well known, and befriended the Swedish ambassador, Gustaf Creutz, from which he attained a libretto, “Le Huron”, and set it to music in just a short time. Its performance was successful. He soon composed two more comic operas, establishing his eminence in that area. He became a French citizen. He composed some 50 operas, his best in 1771 and 1784. He was the first to include the tuba curva instrument in his operas, which gave them a distinct personality. He also used mandolins in his works. During the French Revolution he lost much of his property, but successive governments in France vied in his favor and he received rewards for his works. He was appointed Inspector of the Conservatoire, and Napoleon granted him the cross of the “Legion of Honor” and a pension. He also taught opera composition to students, including his two dauthers, Lucile and Caroline. He died at the Hermitage in Montmorency and was buried in Paris. A statue commemorating him was commissioned in 1804 by Hippolyte, comte de Livry, and placed in the Opera Comique in 1809, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. John Perry