Edward Partridge Kimball (June 2, 1882 – March 15, 1937) was an American

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

of the

Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir, acting as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for ov ...

and a

Latter-day Saint Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

writer. In 1898, Kimball was appointed music teacher at the Beaver Branch of

Brigham Young Academy Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

. From April 1902 to April 1906, Kimball served as a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

for

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church) in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. Kimball was either the organist or assistant organist of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1905 to 1937. Kimball was the organist when ''

Music and the Spoken Word Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect o ...

'' began. His son,

Ted Kimball Edward Beatie "Ted" Kimball (February 17, 1910 – August 5, 1985), was a professional radio host in the Salt Lake City region. He was the first announcer of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast "Music and the Spoken Word". Kimball was born in Sa ...

, was the first announcer for the show. Kimball wrote the words to "God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son" and the music to "Great God, To Thee My Evening Song" and "The Wintry Day Descending to a Close", all of which are in the 1985

English language English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the is ...

edition of the LDS Church hymnal. Kimball took a leave from his active service as a Tabernacle organist to serve as

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

of the LDS Church's German–

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

Mission Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to: Organised activities Religion *Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity *Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...

. In 1933, Kimball was appointed organist and director of the church's Bureau of Information in

Washington, D. C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...

, where he also served as a lecturer and guide. While in this role, Kimball died following a brief illness in 1937.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimball, Edward P. 1882 births 1937 deaths 20th-century Mormon missionaries 20th-century classical musicians American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters American Mormon missionaries in Austria American Mormon missionaries in Germany American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Brigham Young Academy faculty Mission presidents (LDS Church) Tabernacle Choir organists 20th-century American male musicians American male classical organists American organists