George Whiting
Encyclopedia
George Elbridge Whiting (September 14, 1840 – October 14, 1923) was an American
composer
of classical music
.
, he founded the Beethoven Society in Hartford, Connecticut
when he was fifteen years old. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1862 and later to New York City
. Whiting was a student of George Washbourne Morgan. He went to Liverpool, England, and studied with William Thomas Best
. He later studied in Berlin
with Robert Radecke and others.
Whiting worked in various positions in Albany, New York
and Boston
. He succeeded John Henry Willcox
as organist and choir master at the Church of the Immaculate Conception
on the south side of Boston
, where he composed his masses in C minor, F minor, and Eb major.
In 1874, Whiting became organist of the Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1878 he went to the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio
. Whiting was also for a time head of the organ department in the New England Conservatory.
He wrote several published texts, including:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of classical music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
.
Early life and career
Born in Holliston, MassachusettsHolliston, Massachusetts
Holliston is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States in the Greater Boston area. The population was 13,547 at the 2010 census. It is part of the region known as MetroWest. Holliston is the only town in Middlesex County that borders both Norfolk and Worcester...
, he founded the Beethoven Society in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
when he was fifteen years old. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1862 and later to 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...
. Whiting was a student of George Washbourne Morgan. He went to Liverpool, England, and studied with William Thomas Best
William Thomas Best
William Thomas Best was an English organist.The son of a solicitor, he was born at Carlisle. Having decided on a musical career, he became a pupil of the cathedral organist. He became particularly skilled in the interpretation of Bach's music...
. He later studied in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
with Robert Radecke and others.
Whiting worked in various positions in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. He succeeded John Henry Willcox
John Henry Willcox
John Henry Willcox was an organist and organ maker educated at Trinity College . He spent the rest of his life as an organist in Boston....
as organist and choir master at the Church of the Immaculate Conception
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Church of the Immaculate Conception or Immaculate Conception Church may refer to:in Azerbaijan* Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baku, Azerbaijanin Canada...
on the south side of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where he composed his masses in C minor, F minor, and Eb major.
In 1874, Whiting became organist of the Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1878 he went to the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Whiting was also for a time head of the organ department in the New England Conservatory.
Musical works
His compositions include:- mass in C minor (1872)
- mass in F minor (1874)
- mass in F minor (undated)
- "Dream Pictures" (1874)
- "The Tale of the Viking" (1878)
- Leonora (1893 opera)
- three cantatas
- some pieces for orchestra
- and several songs.
- music for the organ
He wrote several published texts, including:
- "The Organist" (Boston, 1870)
- "The First Six Months on the Organ" (Boston, 1871).