The Enchiridion

Biographical Notes (Shep - Spitta)

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Shepherd, James Francis
b. Grimsby, Lincolnshire: 31 August 1871
d. Halifax, Yorkshire: 4 November 1963

His father, a Congregational minister (as he himself later became), moved from Grimsby to Beverley, Yorkshire, when J.F.Shepherd was a few months old. He was educated at the Hull and East Riding College, and at Lincoln and Mansfield Colleges, Oxford. He was minister of Congregational Churches at Haverhill, Suffolk 1896-1903; Withington, Manchester 1903-14; Belmont, Aberdeen 1914-19; Park Chapel, Halifax 1919-24; and Beverley, Yorkshire 1924-37. He then officially retired; but with the outbreak of war in 1939 returned to pastoral duty at Shipley, Yorkshire 1939-42. In 1946 he accepted a temporary pastorate at his original home church, Beverley 1946-48.

He was an enthusiastic musician and amateur astronomer, and a member of the editorial committee for Congregational Praise 1951, to which he contributed two tunes - Once there came to earth (RS-177), and an alternative to Lucerne for Isaac Watts's "I'll praise my maker", which he named Beverlac.

Xref:
RS-177 Once there came to earth
 

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Sherlock, Hugh
b. Jamaica: 1905
d. Jamaica: April 1998

 

Xref:
RS-579 Lord, thy Church on earth is seeking
 

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Simmonds, C.
b. ? : ?

 

Xref: 
RS-367 I want to walk with Jesus Christ
 

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Simpson, Robert
b. Glasgow: 4 November 1790
d. Greenock, Renfrewshire: June ?, 1832

He was a weaver who was for a time precentor at the Albion Street Congregational Chapel, Glasgow. On moving to Greenock he made music his profession, and was precentor and session clerk at East Patish Church, Greenock 1823-32. He died in a cholera outbreak.

Xref:
RS-688 Ballerma
 

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Slater, Gordon Archbold
b. Harrogate, Yorkshire: 1 March 1896
d. Leicester: 26 January 1979

He was educated privately; and studied under Edward Bairstow at York Minster 1914-16. After war service, he was organist of St Botolph's Parish Church, Boston Lincolnshire 1919-27; Leicester Cathedral 1927-30; and Lincoln Cathedral 1930-66. He was an extra-mural lecturer for the University College of Nottingham 1932-59; Hull University 1933-72; and Sheffield University 1972-74; and was also well known as a conductor and organ recitalist.

He composed vocal, piano, and much church and organ music.

Xref:
RS-447 St Botolph
 

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Smallwood, William
b. Kendal, Westmorland: 31 December 1831
d. Kendal: 6 August 1897

He studied the organ under John Camidge (the younger) at York Minster, and was then organist of St George's Church, Kendal for fifty years (1846-96).

He composed much piano music, particularly for teaching, and was the author of a highly successful Pianoforte Tutor.

Xref:
RS-77 Antwerp
 

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Smart, Christopher
b. Shipbourne, Kent: 11 April 1722
d. Southwark, Surrey: 21 May 1771

 

(See also DNB; OCEL) 

Xref:
RS-174 Where is this stupendous stranger
 

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Smart, (Sir) George Thomas
b. Westminster, London: 10 May 1776
d. Bloomsbury, London: 23 February 1867

He was the son of a London music-seller. He was a chorister of the Chapel Royal; and at the age of 15 took his first organist's appointment at St James's Chapel, Hampstead Road. He was also a violinist at Salomon's concerts, some under Haydn. He became well known as a conductor; was music director at Covent Garden Theatre; and was knighted by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for conducting a series of concerts in Dublin in 1811. He was an original member of the Philharmonic Society in 1813, and its conductor from 1813-44. He was appointed an organist of the Chapel Royal in 1822 and Composer in 1838. In 1835 he toured extensively in Europe and visited Beethoven; and he was an intimate friend of Weber, who died in Smart's London house in 1826. He conducted the music for the coronations of King William IV and Queen Victoria, and for countless festivals.

He edited Orlando Gibbons's first set of madrigals and Handel's `Dettingen' Te Deum, and composed church and organ music and glees.

Henry Thomas Smart (1813-79) was his nephew.

(See also DNB; GDM; OCM)

Xref:
RS-685 Wiltshire
 

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Smart, Henry Thomas
b. St Marylebone, London: 26 October 1813
d. Hampstead, Middlesex: 6 July 1879

He was a nephew of Sir George Smart. He was educated at Highgate School, and as a boy often visited the organ factory of Robson and Flight, learning much about organ construction. This knowledge was often called on in later life when he designed and supervised the building of many notable organs. Declining a commission in the Indian Army, he was articled to a solicitor for four years, but then devoted himself to music although largely self-taught. He became a highly skilled organist, noted for his powers of extemporization. He served Blackburn Parish Church 1831-36; St Giles', Cripplegate, London 1836-38; St Philip's, Regent Street 1838-44; St Luke's, Old Street 1844-64; and St Pancras Parish Church 1865-79.

He composed prolifically, but is chiefly remembered for his church and organ music, part-songs and hymn tunes. He was an ardent advocate of congregational singing. For his last fifteen years he was totally blind; but with his daughter as amanuensis and with his remarkable memory and gifts as an extemporizer, he continued his activities almost undiminished.

He edited the music of The Choral Book 1858 for the congregation at St Luke's; Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (1866 and 1867) for the English Presbyterians; and The Presbyterian Psalter and Hymnal 1877-8 for the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

(See also DNB; GDM)

Xrefs:
RS-605 Bethany
RS-324=580 Everton
RS-575 Heathlands
RS-319 Regent Square
RS-631 Sunderland
RS-319 Double Chant in G
 

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Smith, Alexander Edmonston Brent (1889-1950)
(see under Brent Smith, A.E.)
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Smith, Alfred Morton
b. Jenkyntown, Pa, USA: 20 May 1879
d. Brigantine, NJ, USA: 26 February 1971

He was a priest of the American Episcopal Church; and was rector of St Matthias's Church, Los Angeles 1906-16, and (for two years during that time) in the City Mission. As an army chaplain he served in France and Germany from 1916-19. He was then on the staff of the Episcopal City Mission of Philadelphia 1919-54, also holding various chaplaincies and assisting at two of the city churches. Until his adult years he had no musical training, but then studied harmony and the 'cello and published three communion settings, some carols and hymn tunes.

Xref:

RS-231=300=731 Sursum corda
 

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Smith, Elizabeth Lee (née Allen)
b. Pittsfield, Mass., USA: 3 September 1817
d. ? : 1898

 

Xref: 
RS-501 I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art
RS-508 O Jesus Christ, grow thou in me
 

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Smith, Edward Russell (`Tedd')
b. London, Ontario, Canada : 18 July 1927

 

Xref: 
RS-412 There's a quiet understanding
 

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Smith, Gwen F. (née Horne) (married 1943)
b. ? : 1909
d. ? : 1995

 

Xref: 
RS-65 I love the sun
 

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Smith, Isaac
b. ? : 1734
d. Walworth, Newington, Surrey: 14 December 1805

He was a linen-draper in Cheapside, London; and sometime precentor at the Alie Street (Baptist) Meeting House, Goodman's Fields, Whitechapel. He is said to have been the first Dissenting precentor to receive a salary (20 pounds a year). His Collection of Psalm Tunes in three parts (treble, tenor, bass) appeared about 1780, although there was probably an earlier edition. In the preface to the fifth edition (1788) he advocated weekly congregational practices for hymn singing.

Xref:
RS-61=387 Abridge
 

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Smith, Robert Archibald
b. Reading, Berkshire: 16 November 1780
d. Edinburgh: 3 January 1829

His father, a silk-weaver in Paisley, had gone to Reading in 1774 in search of work; but by 1800 the family had returned to Paisley. The boy early showed musical talent and was an accomplished flautist, violinist and cellist. In 1803 he abandoned weaving for teaching music; and he was precentor and session clerk at Paisley Abbey 1807-23; then precentor at St George's Edinburgh 1823-29.

He composed a number of songs and anthems; but his greatest work was The Scottish Minstrel 1821-24, a collection of over 600 Scottish songs. He collaborated with the minister of St George's, Andrew Thompson, in editing Sacred Harmony 1820 and Sacred Music 1825; and also himself published a number of similar collections.

One of the greatest Scottish precentors, he helped to found a tradition that lasted through most of the nineteenth century.

(See also DNB; OCM, under `Presbyterian Church Music 4')

Xref:

RS-81=689 Martyrdom
 

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Smith, Samuel
b. Eton, Buckinghamshire: 29 August 1821
d. Windsor, Berkshire: 1 January 1917

He was the son of a lay clerk of St George's Chapel Windsor. He was a pupil of G.J.Elvey, and, as a chorister of the Chapel Royal, sang at both the coronation and the funeral of William IV (1830 and 1831). He held organist's posts in Hayes, Middlesex and Eton; then at Egham parish Church 1846-58; Holy Trinity, Windsor 1858-61; and Windsor Parish Church 1861-95. He was music instructor to Beaumont College, Old Windsor 1861-1903, and conducted the Eton and Windsor Choral Society 1879-90.

Xref:
RS-120 Ruth
 

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Smith, Walter Chalmers
b. Aberdeen: 5 December 1824
d. Kinbuck, Dunblane, Perthshire: 19 September 1908

 

Xref: 
RS-67 Immortal, invisible, God only wise
 

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Somervell, (Sir) Arthur
b. Applethwaite, Westmorland: 5 June 1863
d. St Marylebone, London: 2 May 1937

He was educated at Uppingham School and at King's College Cambridge where he studied composition under C.V.Stanford. He studied with Friedrich Kiel in Berlin 1883-85; at the Royal College of Music 1885-87; and privately with C.H.H.Parry. He became a Professor at the RCM in 1894; was an inspector of music in schools 1901-20; and principal inspector 1920-28. He was knighted in 1929. He was later chairman of the council of the School of English Church Music (now RSCM).

He edited Songs of the Four Nations and other folk music; and composed orchestral works, chamber music, five song-cycles and many other songs, children's operettas, cantatas including The Passion of Christ 1914 and Christmas 1926, and many hymn tunes and anthems.

(See also GDM; OCM)

Xrefs:
RS-103 Chorus Angelorum
 

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Spitta, Karl Johann Philipp
b. Hanover, Germany: 1 August 1801
d. Burgdorf, Hanover: 28 September 1859

 

(See also Julian pp.1075b-1080a) 

Xref:
RS-515 We praise and bless thee, gracious Lord
 

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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 15/5/03)