Edward Moore Zimmerman, often given as E. M. Zimmerman, (January 9, 1859 – December 6, 1922) was an American

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

choir conductor Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary duties ...

, organist, and music educator. A longtime resident of Philadelphia, he was active as a church and concert singer in that city from the 1880s into the early years of the 20th century. He also worked as a voice teacher in Philadelphia, and held posts as a choir conductor and organist at several churches in that city. He was also a vocal music instructor at the Methodist Conference Seminary (now

The Pennington School The Pennington School is a private (independent), coeducational college preparatory school for day and boarding students in sixth through twelfth grades, located in Pennington, New Jersey, a small community in the northeastern United States ...

). He is best remembered as a composer of hymns, and for co-writing the suffragist

anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short ...

"Votes for Women: Suffrage Rallying Song" (1915) with his wife and frequent singing partner, the soprano

Marie Kunkel Zimmerman Marie Kunkel Zimmerman, born Mamie R. Kunkel, (September 13, 1864 – May 10, 1953) was an American soprano of the concert stage. She began her acting career as a child opposite her father; the theatre manager, blackface minstrel show entertainer ...

Early life and education

Born on January 9, 1859, in Wilmington, Delaware, Edward M. Zimmerman was the son of Henry W. Zimmerman and Catherine A. Zimmerman (née Wyatt). He attended schools in his youth in Newark, Delaware. He studied singing in London with George Henschel, and in New York City with Emilio Belari and John Howard. He began his career as a

vocalist at the Household of Faith Church in Wilmington with an 1883 article in the ''Wilmington Daily Republican'' describing him as "a popular and well known local singer". In February 1886 he was a guest soloist in a benefit concert given to raise funds for the Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. After moving to Philadelphia, he entered the University of Pennsylvania where he studied music composition with

Hugh Archibald Clarke Hugh Archibald Clarke (August 15, 1839 – December 16, 1927) was a Canadian composer, organist, and music teacher. Early life Hugh Archibald Clarke was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1839.William Gilchrist, and appeared as a soloist in concerts with the

Mendelssohn Club Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia (formerly known as Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and Mendelssohn Club Chorus of Philadelphia) is a music institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1874 by William Wallace Gilchrist, a major figure ...

, a Philadelphia choir founded by Gilchrist.

Philadelphia musician

Singer

By 1886 Zimmerman had moved to Philadelphia where he was a member of the Mendelssohn Male Quartet (MMQ), a professional vocal chamber group established from within the

Chautauqua movement Chautauqua ( ) was an adult education and social movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua bro ...

. In 1891 the MMQ was one of several ensembles that performed at a benefit concert for the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital at the Academy of Music. Zimmerman was also active a church soloist in Philadelphia, and as early as 1887 held a post as bass soloist at Fifth Baptist Church. He later held similar posts at St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church and the First Universalist Church. In 1887 Zimmerman was the bass soloist in

Jackson of Exeter William Jackson (29 May 1730 – 5 July 1803), referred to as Jackson of Exeter, was an English organist and composer. Life Jackson was born and died in Exeter, England, the son of an Exeter grocer, who later became master of the city workhouse. ...

's cantata ''The Year'' presented by the Vesper Choral Society of Philadelphia at Musical Fund Hall under conductor and composer H. H. Pendleton. In May 1887 he sang the role of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, in

William Batchelder Bradbury William Batchelder Bradbury (October 6, 1816 – January 7, 1868) was a musician who composed the tune to " Jesus Loves Me" and many other popular hymns. Biography He was born on October 6, 1816, in York, Maine, where his father was the leader o ...

's cantata ''Esther, the Beautiful Queen'' in performances given first at Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church; later being presented in a two-week engagement at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington. That same month he starred as Captain Corcoran in a production of

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...

's '' H.M.S. Pinafore'' at the Academy of Music. In 1894 he was the bass soloist in the world premiere of the cantata ''The Pilgrim'' by English-born American composer Albert W. Borst (1841–1923).

A collaborative marriage in song

In 1892 Zimmerman married the soprano and voice teacher

. Marie, born with the name Mamie Kunkel,1880 United States Federal Census for Mamie Kunkel, Maryland, Baltimore (Independent City), Baltimore, 059, 17-296J., C274, page number 7, Supervisor's District Number 1 was the daughter of actress Ada Proctor and theatre manager, minstrel show performer, and songwriter George Kunkel Sr. (1823–1885). Her brother was George Kunkel Jr. (1866–1937); a silent film actor and opera singer. Zimmerman would frequently sing in concerts with his wife, both before and after their marriage. In 1889 they were both featured vocal soloists in a concert given at the Music Teachers National Association's convention at Musical Fund Hall. The couple were part of a vocal quartet which performed in chamber music concerts sponsored by the Manuscript Music Society of Philadelphia at Musical Fund Hall in 1895 and 1897. In February 1896 the Zimmermans were soloists in Louis Spohr's ''God, Thou Art Great: Opus 98: a Sacred Cantata for Four Voices'' which was performed at the Drexel Institute (now

Drexel University Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, S ...

) in a memorial concert for the Philadelphia concert pianist and music teacher

Charles H. Jarvis Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

(1837–1895). The following April they were the bass and soprano soloists in

Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...

's '' The Creation'' at Philadelphia's Association Hall, a work they repeated at that same theatre in May 1898. In October 1898 the couple were part of the soloist quartet in the Philadelphia premiere of

Liza Lehmann Liza Lehmann (11 July 1862 – 19 September 1918) was an English soprano and composer, known for her vocal compositions.Banfield, Stephen. Grove Music Online' After vocal studies with Alberto Randegger and Jenny Lind, and composition studies ...

's song-cycle ''In a Persian garden'' at Witherspoon Hall.

Composer, choirmaster, organist, educator

Zimmerman held posts as choirmaster at several different Philadelphia area churches during his career, among them the Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany, Memorial Baptist Church, and Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church in Germantown. He also held the post of organist at the latter church. With his wife, Zimmerman composed the song "Votes for Women: Suffrage Rallying Song" (1915) which was dedicated to Anna Howard Shaw, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. He composed the hymns "All Things Beautiful and Fair" and "Blessed Jesus, ere we part". His choral works "Jubilate" and "Nunc Dimmitis" were performed in a concert sponsored by the Manuscript Music Society in March 1895. Zimmerman worked as a voice teacher in Philadelphia. He also taught vocal music at

(then known as the Methodist Conference Seminary). He served terms on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association.

Death

Zimmerman died of Bright's disease on December 6, 1922, at Jewish Hospital in Philadelphia.

References

Citations

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zimmerman, Edward, M. 1859 births 1922 deaths American Christian hymnwriters American composers American organists Musicians from Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania alumni Voice teachers