Mason, Lowell, 1792-1872 (Personal Name)

Pemberton, C.A. Lowell Mason, c1985.

LC data base, 12-18-84 (hdg.: Mason, Lowell, 1792-1872)

New Grove dict. of Amer. mus., 1986 (under Mason: Lowell Mason; b. Jan. 8, 1792, Medfield, MA, d. Aug. 11, 1872, Orange, NJ; music educator, composer, anthologist, and conductor)

NUCMC data from Litchfield Hist. Soc. for His Hallelujah music book, 1854 (Lowell Mason (Jan. 8, 1792--Aug. 11, 1872) was a leading figure in American church music and the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are still sung today. His most well-known tunes include "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and the arrangement of "Joy to the World." He was also largely responsible for introducing music into American public schools, and is considered to be the first important music educator in the United States. In the last part of his career, as music director of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, he radically transformed American church music from a practice of having professional choirs and accompaniment to congregational singing accompanied by organ music)