B. Cecil Gates
Encyclopedia
Brigham Cecil Gates was born in Laie, Oahu
, Hawaii
on August 16, 1887, the second of twelve children of Jacob F. and Susa Young Gates
. Following early training in music from teachers at Brigham Young Academy, John H. McClellan and others in Salt Lake City, and the New England Conservatory of Music
, he taught piano in St. George, Utah
.
From 1907 to 1910 he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to the Eastern States mission which was headquartered in New York City
. He studied in the Scharwenka Conservatory of Music in Berlin from 1910 to 1913, graduating with high honors.
On June 30, 1917, he married Gweneth Gibbs in the Salt Lake Temple
. Their children are Gweneth Mulder; Emma Lou – Mrs. Reed E. Ashton; B. Cecil Gates, Jr., who died at the age of eighteen; Helen – Mrs. Owen I. Gardiner; and Ruth – Mrs. B. Keith Duffin.
From 1913 to 1925 he was head of the Music Department of the LDS University, the predecessor of LDS Business College
. During this period he began what later became the McCune School of Music, assembling an excellent faculty. The school gained national recognition for the high quality of its administration and teachings.
In 1920 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized its General Church Music Committee, Gates was one of its original 13 members.
From 1916 to 1935 he was assistant director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
. He also was a member of the General Board of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association from 1918 to 1929. With his sister Emma Lucy Gates Bowen
he organized the Lucy Gates Grand Opera Company of Salt Lake City in 1915 and there conducted many of the world’s great operas. In 1926 he was appointed chairman of the Music Department at Utah State University
. He also composed a significant number of choral and orchestral works, popular with people at all levels of musical background and ability.
Gates also served as director of the Salt Lake Oratorio Society.
He died in Salt Lake City on August 31, 1941 after suffering from a debilitating illness for several years before his death.
The B. Cecil Gates Opera Workshop, which is part of the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center
at BYU is used for the rehearsal and preparation of student productions of opera. It is also used as a large lecture classroom.
The Gates Opera Workshop is a rectangular room just off the de Jong Concert Hall stage. An oversized doorway permits transporting of large scene pieces back and forth from stage area to the workshop room. A capacious storage area is located in the west side of the room, and access to it from the tunnel is possible, permitting trucks and equipment to be moved in easily (Special Program, 8).
Among works by Gates are an arrangement of The Lord's Prayer, the Easter
cantata Resurrection Morning, My Redeemer Lives, How Long Oh Lord Most Holy and True (words by his brother-in-law, John A. Widtsoe
), "Hear My Prayer" and "The Festival Overture".
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
on August 16, 1887, the second of twelve children of Jacob F. and Susa Young Gates
Susa Young Gates
300px|thumb|Susa Young Gates, portrait bustSusa Young Gates was a writer, periodical editor, and women's rights advocate in Utah....
. Following early training in music from teachers at Brigham Young Academy, John H. McClellan and others in Salt Lake City, and the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
, he taught piano in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
.
From 1907 to 1910 he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to the Eastern States mission which was headquartered in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He studied in the Scharwenka Conservatory of Music in Berlin from 1910 to 1913, graduating with high honors.
On June 30, 1917, he married Gweneth Gibbs in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
. Their children are Gweneth Mulder; Emma Lou – Mrs. Reed E. Ashton; B. Cecil Gates, Jr., who died at the age of eighteen; Helen – Mrs. Owen I. Gardiner; and Ruth – Mrs. B. Keith Duffin.
From 1913 to 1925 he was head of the Music Department of the LDS University, the predecessor of LDS Business College
LDS Business College
LDS Business College is a two-year college in Salt Lake City, Utah, focused on training students in business and industry. The college is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and operates under the Church Educational System and is associated with the Brigham Young University...
. During this period he began what later became the McCune School of Music, assembling an excellent faculty. The school gained national recognition for the high quality of its administration and teachings.
In 1920 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized its General Church Music Committee, Gates was one of its original 13 members.
From 1916 to 1935 he was assistant director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
. He also was a member of the General Board of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association from 1918 to 1929. With his sister Emma Lucy Gates Bowen
Emma Lucy Gates Bowen
Emma Lucy Gates Bowen was an American opera singer and later the wife of Albert E. Bowen a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . She was often referred to as Lucy Gates and after her marriage as Lucy Gates Bowen or just Lucy Bowen.Emma...
he organized the Lucy Gates Grand Opera Company of Salt Lake City in 1915 and there conducted many of the world’s great operas. In 1926 he was appointed chairman of the Music Department at Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. He also composed a significant number of choral and orchestral works, popular with people at all levels of musical background and ability.
Gates also served as director of the Salt Lake Oratorio Society.
He died in Salt Lake City on August 31, 1941 after suffering from a debilitating illness for several years before his death.
The B. Cecil Gates Opera Workshop, which is part of the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center
Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center
The Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center is the main location for the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications. , housing most of the colleges departments and divisions...
at BYU is used for the rehearsal and preparation of student productions of opera. It is also used as a large lecture classroom.
The Gates Opera Workshop is a rectangular room just off the de Jong Concert Hall stage. An oversized doorway permits transporting of large scene pieces back and forth from stage area to the workshop room. A capacious storage area is located in the west side of the room, and access to it from the tunnel is possible, permitting trucks and equipment to be moved in easily (Special Program, 8).
Among works by Gates are an arrangement of The Lord's Prayer, the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
cantata Resurrection Morning, My Redeemer Lives, How Long Oh Lord Most Holy and True (words by his brother-in-law, John A. Widtsoe
John A. Widtsoe
John Andreas Widtsoe was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1921 until his death. Widtsoe was also a noted author, scientist, and academician.-Early life:...
), "Hear My Prayer" and "The Festival Overture".
Sources
- http://history.cfac.byu.edu/index.php/Brigham_Cecil_Gates - Special Program for Naming of Areas, Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center. Tuesday, November 23, 1965 at Brigham Young University
- J. Spencer CornwallJ. Spencer CornwallJoseph Spencer Cornwall was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory....
. Stories of Our Mormon Hymns. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975) p. 85. - Sheet Music plus entry for Gates
- article on Susa Young Gates that mentions Cecil