William James Henderson
Encyclopedia
William James Henderson (December 4, 1855–June 5, 1937) was an American
musical critic and scholar, born at Newark, New Jersey
.
in 1876 and immediately began work as a journalist, later as a reporter, then as the musical critic of The New York Times
, and in 1902 of The New York Sun. He wrote perceptive press reviews of the performances of the Metropolitan Opera
's star singers which remain valuable for today's scholars. Henderson's perspicacity as a musical reviewer and evaluator was recognised when he was appointed lecturer on musical history in the New York College of Music. He was also elected a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1914.
Three days after the death of his longtime friend and fellow newspaper music critic, Richard Aldrich
, he committed suicide with a .38-calibre revolver in his West-Side Manhattan
hotel room.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical critic and scholar, born at Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
Biography
He graduated from PrincetonPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1876 and immediately began work as a journalist, later as a reporter, then as the musical critic of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and in 1902 of The New York Sun. He wrote perceptive press reviews of the performances of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
's star singers which remain valuable for today's scholars. Henderson's perspicacity as a musical reviewer and evaluator was recognised when he was appointed lecturer on musical history in the New York College of Music. He was also elected a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1914.
Three days after the death of his longtime friend and fellow newspaper music critic, Richard Aldrich
Richard Aldrich
Richard Aldrich was an American music critic. From 1902–23, he was music critic for The New York Times.Aldrich was born in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated A.B. in 1885 from Harvard College, where he had studied music. He began his journalistic career on the Providence Journal...
, he committed suicide with a .38-calibre revolver in his West-Side Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
hotel room.
Publications
- Sea Yarns for Boys
- Afloat with the Flag
- The Last Cruise of the Mohawk
- Preludes and Studies (1891)
- The Story of Music (1889; 12 enlarged ed., 1912)
- Elements of Navigation (1895)
- What is Good Music? (1898)
- How Music Developed (1899)
- The Orchestra and Orchestral Music (1902)
- Richard Wagner, His Life and His Dramas (1901)
- Modern musical Drift (1904)
- The Art of the Singer (1906)
- Some Forerunners of Italian Opera (1911)
- The Soul of a Tenor (1912) a novel
- Early History of Singing (1921)