Josiah Booth (27 March 1852 – 29 December 1929) was an English organist and composer, known chiefly for his

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'' ...

-tunes. Booth was born in

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...

, where he was taught music by

Edward Simms Edward Simms (10 February 1800 - 15 January 1893) was an English organist and composer. Background He was the son of Edward Simms and born at Oldswinford, Worcestershire. He studied organ from an early age with his uncles at Stourbridge, and wh ...

, and subsequently studied at the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke of ...

, under

Henry Brinley Richards Henry Brinley Richards (13 November 1817 – 1 May 1885) was a Welsh composer, who also published some works under the pseudonym 'Carl Luini'. Richards was born in Hall Street, Carmarthen, his father being organist at St Peter's Church in the ...

and

George Alexander Macfarren Sir George Alexander Macfarren (2 March 181331 October 1887) was an English composer and musicologist. Life George Alexander Macfarren was born in London on 2 March 1813 to George Macfarren, a dancing-master, dramatic author and journalist, wh ...

. In 1868 he became organist at

Banbury Banbury is a historic market town on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. It had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding area of north Oxfordshire ...

's Wesleyan Chapel. Several of his tunes were included in the 1887 ''Congregational Church Hymnal''. One of his works was performed at the National Fete of the Independent Order of Grand Templars at

Crystal Palace Crystal Palace may refer to: Places Canada * Crystal Palace Complex (Dieppe), a former amusement park now a shopping complex in Dieppe, New Brunswick * Crystal Palace Barracks, London, Ontario * Crystal Palace (Montreal), an exhibition building * ...

in 1884.Michael Musgrave, ''The Musical Life of the Crystal Palace'', Cambridge University Press, 1995, p 205
/ref> Booth's own pupils included

G. D. Cunningham George Dorrington Cunningham (October 2, 1878 – August 4, 1948) was an English concert organist. Born in London to musical parents, Cunningham studied piano with his mother, subsequently switching to organ at the Guildhall School of Music. U ...

and

Charles James Mott Charles James Mott (24 October 1879 – 22 May 1918) was an English baritone. Biography Charles James Mott was born in Hornsey, North London, the son of Henry Isaac Mott, a surveyor's clerk, and Eliza Brockley, a singing teacher. He was one of ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Booth, Josiah 1852 births 1929 deaths English Methodist hymnwriters English composers