Gilchrist, William Wallace

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Gilchrist, William Wallace

Gilchrist, William Wallace, American organist, conductor, teacher, and composer; b. Jersey City, N.J., Jan. 8, 1846; d. Easton, Pa., Dec. 20, 1916. He settled in Philadelphia and studied organ, singing, and composition with H. A. Clarke. He was active as an organist and choirmaster, and was founder-conductor of the Mendelssohn Glee Club (1874-1914) and conductor of the Philadelphia Sym. Soc. (1893-99). He also served as head of the vocal dept. at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (from 1882). In 1898 he was elected to the National Inst. Of Arts and Letters. He wrote 2 syms.: No. 1 (1891; Philadelphia, 1892) and No. 2 (unfinished; completed by W. Happich; Philadelphia, April 9, 1937), a symphonic poem, a piano quintet, oratorios, cantatas, and songs.

Bibliography

M. Schleifer, W.W. G., 1846-1916: A Moving Force in the Musical Life of Philadelphia (Metuchen, N.J., 1985).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Gilchrist, William Wallace

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