Hood, George

views updated

Hood, George

Hood, George, American minister, writer on music, and composer; b. Topsfield, Mass., Feb. 10, 1807; d. Minneapolis, Sept. 24, 1882. He studied in local singing-schools and with Lowell Mason in Boston. After being ordained in Lawrenceville, N.J. (1848), he held pastorates in Bath, N.Y. (1849–50) and Southport, N.Y. (1851–53), and then was a teacher or agent in Chester, Pa., and Princeton, N.J. He was supply minister in Bethel, N.Y. (1874–78) and Minneapolis (1880), and then superintendent of Shakopee Mission, Minn. Hood’s most important book was A History of Music in New England with Biographical Sketches of Reformers and Psalmists (Boston, 1846). He also publ. Can All Learn to Sing? (Boston, c. 1840) and Musical Manual Designed as a Text-book for Classes or Private Pupils in Vocal or Instrumental Music (Philadelphia, 1864). He also composed congregational hymn tunes.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire