Johnson and Root, and the partnership dissolved. An amicable settlement was made between Messrs. Root was called to take the organ at Bowdoin Street, Mr. During the last year of the five-year partnership, Mr. Johnson's absence as it did also after his return. Bancroft.Įverything went smoothly during Mr. One of the organs was played by a pupil - Mr. Johnson went to Germany, and left the two large church choirs (Winter Street and Park Street) in charge of Mr. Mason's teachers' classes, and later incorporated the same method in his own normals. He taught vocal training and continued this work for years afterward in Dr. Root became one of the teachers in this class. They called them "The Teachers' Class." Teachers and singers were called to Boston from surrounding territory to study and practice pretty much as they do now at normals. Mason and Webb had introduced what is now called Musical Conventions a year or two previous to this. Johnson and Root were employed to assist him. Mason's music teaching in the public schools was a growing success, and Messrs. They were kept quite busy.Īt this time Dr. The annual rental was six hundred dollars. They then changed their quarters to three rooms in the basement of Park Street Church. Root was to receive one-third of their earnings, and the former was to have the privilege of visiting Germany part of the time if he chose. Johnson proposed a five year partnership, by which Mr. It lasted nearly through the winter, and on the closing night his class made him a present of a silver goblet, suitably engraved, which he kept among his treasures.īefore the first year was up Mr. His first real singing class was taught the following fall, 1839, at the North End. Webb, the then celebrated voice teacher of Boston. Johnson's recommendation, he began taking private voice lessons of Mr. ![]() Lowell Mason and being accepted as a bass singer in the celebrated Bowdoin Street choir. A most important event to him was meeting Dr. Johnson encouraged him by a considerable increase of salary. Johnson had him playing for the prayer-meeting, and but a few more till he began turning over pupils to him. He worked industriously and made steady progress. Johnson when he was out, and practice his lessons when not otherwise engaged. His duties were to see to the fires, care for the room, answer callers, give information about Mr. On the second day of October, 1838, he entered upon his duties in his new heaven on earth located at Harmony Hall, Mr. The young man's happiness over these events can better be imagined than described. Johnson to receive three dollars a week and board and lessons, the neighbors became interested and encouraged him to go ahead, they promising to help look after the farm and see that the family got along. ![]() His father and one of the brothers were at the time in South America, and the mother, with six younger children, was at home on the farm. In the fall of 1838 he went to Boston and made an engagement to work for Mr. ![]() His dream of life was to be a musician, although such an ambition was looked down upon by all his relatives and friends, excepting a fond mother. At thirteen it was his pride that he could "play a tune" on as many instruments as he was years old. He was always fond of music- not singing at all as a boy, but played upon every kind of instrument that came in his way. His father moved to North Reading, near Boston, when the boy was six years old, and there his youth was spent. ![]() George Frederick Root was born in Sheffield, Mass., August 30, 1820. John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) A sympathetic biographical sketch, with portrait, is in The Tonic Sol-Fa Reporter, Sep. He is much more widely known as a composer of popular music than as a hymn writer. DOC, born in Sheffield, Berkshire County, Mass., Aug.
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