John Gerrish
Encyclopedia
John O'Neill Gerrish (August 14, 1910 – November 29, 2010) was an American composer of the 20th century, best known for The Falcon, a cappella piece for SATB
based on the Middle or Early Modern English Corpus Christi Carol
.
. He graduated from Crane School of Music
in 1930, and led a dance band during the 1930s. He taught for ten years at Franklin Academy in Malone, New York and was a professor of music at Kean University
in New Jersey
for most of his career.
, published in New York by Associated Music Publishers in 1957. Reviewer, Joel Newman, called the work "neatly-constructed, fun-to-play, but merely-cute variations." Other compositions include I Sing A Maiden
(1953), Fifteen Christmas melodies for soprano recorder and piano (1954), and the piano solos Country Dance, Mountain Climbing and 'South Wind (1954).
The Music Educators Journal published a detailed article and interview "A Family Program for Voices, Recorders, and Viols: The Gerrish Family" in 1962. The New York State Teachers Association, Northern Zone, lists John Gerrish as Chairman of Music Section in Malone, New York
, September 29, 1939.
, he married the Claire Stackpole of Winooski. Following his retirement, Gerrish was the organist at the Winooski United Methodist Church
for twenty years. He died on November 29, 2010 and is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Potsdam.
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
based on the Middle or Early Modern English Corpus Christi Carol
Corpus Christi Carol
Corpus Christi Carol is a Middle or Early Modern English hymn , first found by an apprentice grocer named Richard Hill in a manuscript written around 1504. The original writer of the carol remains anonymous....
.
Early life
Gerrish was the son of Charles Percy Gerrish and Mary Elizabeth O'Neill of Potsdam, New YorkPotsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
. He graduated from Crane School of Music
Crane School of Music
The Crane School of Music is located in Potsdam, New York, and is one of three schools which make up the State University of New York at Potsdam....
in 1930, and led a dance band during the 1930s. He taught for ten years at Franklin Academy in Malone, New York and was a professor of music at Kean University
Kean University
Kean University is a coeducational, public research university located in Union and Hillside, New Jersey, United States. Kean University serves its students in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions with a dedication to intellectual and cultural growth and is best known for its...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
for most of his career.
Music
In addition The Falcon, Gerrish's better-known works include Variations on a Burgundian Carol for 3 Recorders, based on the carol PatapanPatapan
"Patapan" is a French Christmas carol in Burgundian dialect, later adapted into English. It was written by Bernard de La Monnoye and first published in Noël bourguignons in 1720...
, published in New York by Associated Music Publishers in 1957. Reviewer, Joel Newman, called the work "neatly-constructed, fun-to-play, but merely-cute variations." Other compositions include I Sing A Maiden
I syng of a mayden
"I syng of a mayden" is a Middle English lyric poem or carol of the 15th century celebrating the Annunciation and the Virgin Birth of Jesus...
(1953), Fifteen Christmas melodies for soprano recorder and piano (1954), and the piano solos Country Dance, Mountain Climbing and 'South Wind (1954).
The Music Educators Journal published a detailed article and interview "A Family Program for Voices, Recorders, and Viols: The Gerrish Family" in 1962. The New York State Teachers Association, Northern Zone, lists John Gerrish as Chairman of Music Section in Malone, New York
Malone (village), New York
-Notable natives:Notable natives include:*William Almon Wheeler served as Vice President of the United States under Rutherford Hayes. Is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone....
, September 29, 1939.
Personal life
Gerrish married twice. After the death of his first wife, Marion Benham of Saranac LakeSaranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
, he married the Claire Stackpole of Winooski. Following his retirement, Gerrish was the organist at the Winooski United Methodist Church
Methodist Episcopal Church of Winooski
Methodist Episcopal Church of Winooski is a historic church at 24 W Allen Street in Winooski, Vermont.It was built in 1918 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001....
for twenty years. He died on November 29, 2010 and is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Potsdam.