Leo Salkeld Sowerby (1 May 1895 – 7 July 1968) was an American composer and church musician. He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1946 and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid 20th century.

Biography

Leo Sowerby, son of Florence Gertrude Salkeld and John Sowerby, was born on 1 May 1895, in

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...

,United States Federal Census, Grand Rapids ward 4, Kent, Michigan; roll 722; page 15A; enumeration district: 0060; FHL microfilm: 1240722. where he began to compose at the age of 10. His interest in the organ began at the age of 15, and he was self-taught at the instrument. He studied composition with Arthur Olaf Andersen at the

American Conservatory of Music The American Conservatory of Music (ACM) was a major American school of music founded in Chicago in 1886 by John James Hattstaedt (1851–1931). The conservatory was incorporated as an Illinois non-profit corporation. It developed the Conservator ...

in Chicago.Harold Gleason, "Leo Sowerby". American Organ Music (LP Record). Catharine Crozier, organ. Rochester, New York: Kendall Recording Corporation. KRC-LP 2555. Early recognition came when his Violin Concerto was premiered in 1913 by the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenu ...

.Ronald Stalford and Michael Meckna, "Sowerby, Leo", ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' (2nd ed.), edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrell, (London, Macmillan Publishers (2001)). He spent time in France during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in the role of bandmaster. In 1921 he was awarded the

Rome Prize The Rome Prize is awarded by the American Academy in Rome, in Rome, Italy. Approximately thirty scholars and artists are selected each year to receive a study fellowship at the academy. Prizes have been awarded annually since 1921, with a hiatus ...

(from the

American Academy in Rome The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) in Rome. The academy is a member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. History In 1893, a group of American architects, ...

), the first composer to receive this. He began teaching at the American Conservatory of Music in 1924. He received the 1946

Pulitzer Prize for Music The Pulitzer Prize for Music is one of seven Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually in Letters, Drama, and Music. It was first given in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year, and this was eventually converted ...

for his cantata, the ''

Canticle of the Sun The Canticle of the Sun, also known as Laudes Creaturarum (Praise of the Creatures) and ''Canticle of the Creatures'', is a religious song composed by Saint Francis of Assisi. It was written in an Umbrian dialect of Italian but has since been ...

'', written in 1944. In 1919 Sowerby became associate organist at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, and in 1927 he became organist and choirmaster at St James's Episcopal Church in Chicago, which was consecrated as a cathedral in 1955 while he was there. In 1962, after his retirement from St James's, he was called to

Washington National Cathedral The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington, commonly known as Washington National Cathedral, is an American cathedral of the Episcopal Church. The cathedral is located in Washington, D.C., the ca ...

to become the founding director of the College of Church Musicians, a position he held until his death in 1968. He died in

Port Clinton, Ohio Port Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, located at the mouth of the Portage River on Lake Erie, about 44 miles east of Toledo. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capit ...

, while at Camp Wa-Li-Ro in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, the summer choir camp where he had taught for many years. He is buried in Washington National Cathedral. His substantial output includes over 500 works in every genre but opera and ballet. His later works, composed while he was at St James's, Chicago, and Washington National Cathedral, are primarily church music for

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

and organ. For Sowerby's notable pupils

Selected works

Choral

* Cantatas **''A Liturgy of Hope'' (selections from the

Psalm The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived f ...

s) (1917) **''The Vision of Sir Launfal'' poem of

James Russell Lowell James Russell Lowell (; February 22, 1819 – August 12, 1891) was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the fireside poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets that ...

(1925) **''Forsaken of Man'' ( Passion setting, adapted from the

Gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...

s by Edward Borgers) (1939) **''The Canticle of the Sun'' (St Francis of Assisi) (1944) **''Christ Reborn'', for voices and organ (1950) **''The Throne of God'' (

Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament (and consequently the final book of the Christian Bible). Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: , meaning "unveiling" or "revelation". The Book of ...

), for voices and orchestra (1956) **''The Ark of the Covenant'', for voices and organ (1961) * Anthems **"Ad te levavi animam meam" **"Be ye followers of God" **"Behold, O God our Defender" **"Christians, to the Paschal Victim" **"Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire" **"Eternal light" **"I was glad when they said unto me" (

Psalm 122 Psalm 122 is the 122nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I was glad" and in Latin entitled Laetatus sum. It is attributed to King David and one of the fifteen psalms described as A song of ascents (Sh ...

) **"I will lift up mine eyes" ( Psalm 121) **" Love Came Down at Christmas" **"Now There Lightens Upon Us" **"Thy Word is a lantern" (in memory of President

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

) **"Seeing We Also Are Compassed About" (Hebrews 12:1–2, commissioned by the

Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockford ...

Collegiate Choir in the fall of 1957)

Solo voice with accompaniment

Originally published by H. W. Gray, reprinted by the Leo Sowerby Foundation, Bryn Mawr, Pa., Theodore Presser, sole selling agent, 1996. *''The Edge of Dreams'', song cycle, with piano (Mark Turbyfill), H. 154 (1920) #"The Adventurer" #"After-thought" #"Sorrow" #"Pulse of Spring" #"The Forest of Dead Trees" #"O Love that has Come at All" *"I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes", with organ (Psalm 121), H. 147 *"O God of Light" (Matthew 5:13–16) (1934) *"O Jesus, Lord of Mercy" (1934) *" Perfect Love" (D. F. Gurney), H. 237 (1939) *"Thou Art My Strength", with organ (Psalm 30) *''Three Psalms'' for bass and organ, H 189 (1949) #"Hear My Cry, O God" (Psalm 61) #"The Lord Is My Shepherd" (Psalm 23) #"How Long Wilt Thou Forget Me?" *''Three Psalms'' for baritone or contralto and organ, H. 228 #"Whoso Dwelleth" (Psalm 91) #"O Be Joyful in the Lord" (Psalm 100) #"I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes" (Psalm 121)

Organ solo

*'' Comes Autumn Time'' (1916) *''Carillon'' (1917) *''Requiescat in Pace'' (1920) *Symphony in G (1930) *''Pageant'' (1931) *Meditations on Communion Hymns (1942) *Prelude on "The King's Majesty" (1945) *''Canon, Chacony, & Fugue'' (1948) *Ten Hymn Preludes (published separately; 1950s) *''Sinfonia Brevis'' (1965) *Passacaglia (1967)

Organ with other instruments

*''Elevation'', for violin and organ (1912) *''Ballade'', for English horn and organ (1949) *''Festival Musick'' for organ, brass and timpani (1953) **Toccata on 'A.G.O.' (third movement of ''Festival Musick'') *Fantasy, for trumpet and organ (1962)

Orchestra

*Five symphonies **No. 1 (1921) **No. 2 (1927) **No. 3 (1939–40) **No. 4 (1944–47) **No. 5 (1964) * '' Comes Autumn Time'', "program overture" (organ version 1916; orchestrated 1917) * ''From the Northland'', suite for orchestra (1923) * ''Synconata'', symphonic poem for jazz orchestra (1924) * ''Symphony for Jazz Orchestra (“Monotony”)'', suite for jazz orchestra (1925) * ''Prairie'', symphonic poem for orchestra (1929) * ''A Set of Four: A Suite of Ironics'', published in 1931

Orchestra with solo instruments

* Violin Concerto in G major (1913, revised 1924) * Cello Concerto in A major (1914–16) * Piano Concerto no. 1 (1916, revised 1919) * ''Ballad of King Estmere'', for two pianos and orchestra (1922) * ''Medieval Poem'', for organ and orchestra (1926) * Cello Concerto o. 2in E minor (1929–34) * Piano Concerto no. 2 (1932) * Organ Concerto no. 1 (1937) * Classic Concerto, for organ and string orchestra (1944) * Concerto in C, for organ and orchestra * Harp Concerto * ''Concert Piece'', for organ and orchestra (1951)

Chamber music

* Three

Violin Sonatas A violin sonata is a musical composition for violin, often accompanied by a keyboard instrument and in earlier periods with a bass instrument doubling the keyboard bass line. The violin sonata developed from a simple baroque form with no fixed form ...

** No. 1 in A major ** No. 2 in

B-flat major B-flat major is a major scale based on B, with pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative minor is G minor and its parallel minor is B-flat minor. The B-flat major scale is: : Many transposing ins ...

(1922) ** No. 3 in

D major D major (or the key of D) is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor. The D major scale is: : Ch ...

* Sonata for Cello and Piano (1920) * Sonata for Viola and Piano (also playable on clarinet) *

Piano Trio A piano trio is a group of piano and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello, or a piece of music written for such a group. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music. The term can also refer to a group of m ...

C-sharp minor C-sharp minor is a minor scale based on C, with the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature consists of four sharps. The C-sharp natural minor scale is: : Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale ar ...

* Serenade for string quartet in

G major G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative minor is E minor and its parallel minor is G minor. The G major scale is: Notable composi ...

composed in 1917 as a birthday gift to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, published 1921 * Trio for flute, viola, and pianoforte composed 1919 *

Wind Quintet A wind quintet, also known as a woodwind quintet, is a group of five wind players (most commonly flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon). Unlike the string quartet (of 4 string instruments) with its homogeneous blend of sound color, the in ...

(1916, published in 1930 by H.T. FitzSimons) *

Piano Sonata A piano sonata is a sonata written for a solo piano. Piano sonatas are usually written in three or four movements, although some piano sonatas have been written with a single movement ( Scarlatti, Liszt, Scriabin, Medtner, Berg), others with ...

in D Major (1948, rev. 1964) *

Passacaglia The passacaglia (; ) is a musical form that originated in early seventeenth-century Spain and is still used today by composers. It is usually of a serious character and is often based on a bass- ostinato and written in triple metre. Origin The t ...

for piano * Sonata for trumpet and piano (1958) * Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1944)

Discography

* "Impressions: Music for Piano" (Suites: "Florida" and "From the Northland" Folksong and Country Dance Tunes: "Three Folk-tunes from Somerset", "

Money Musk "Money Musk" (), alternatively "Monymusk" or other variations, is a contra dance first published in 1786. It was named after a 1776 strathspey by Daniel Dow which is played to accompany it, which itself was named after the House of Monymusk b ...

", "Fisherman's Tune", "The Irish Washerwoman: A Country Dance Tune", "L'Amour Di Quei Due (The Two Lovers): A Milanese Popular Song") – Malcolm Halliday, pianis

(Troy 226), Albany: Troy Records, 1997 Records *
My Love Unspoken
' (21 songs), (Troy 196), Albany: Troy Records, 1996 (wit
Robert Osborne
bass-baritone, and Malcolm Halliday, pianist
John Yaffé
producer). * ''I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes'' – The Roberts Wesleyan College Chorale & Roberts Wesleyan Brass Ensemble, Robert Shewan, conductor – (Troy 238), Albany NY: Troy Records, 1997 * ''Leo Sowerby: American Master of Sacred Song'' – Gloriae Dei Cantores, Elizabeth Patterson, conductor; David Chalmers, James E. Jordan, jr., organists – Orleans MA: Paraclete Press, (GDCD 016), 1994 * ''Organ Music of Leo Sowerby'' (Symphony in G, ''Requiescat in pace'', ''Fantasy for Flute Stops'') – Catharine Crozier, organ – Chatsworth CA: Delos International, (D/CD 3075), 1988 * ''Leo Sowerby: Works for Organ and Orchestra'' (''Classic Concerto'', ''Medieval Poem'', ''Pageant'', ''Festival Music'') – David Craighead, David Mulbury, organ; The Fairfield Orchestra, John Welsh, conductor – NAXOS 8.559028 * ''Violin & Organ, The Murray/Lohuis Duo'' (Poem) – Robert Murray, Violin, Ardyth Lohuis, organ – Richmond, VA: Raven Recordings, (OAR 200), 1991 * ''Rondo, Works for Violin & Organ, Vo. 2'' (Ballade) – Robert Murray, Violin, Ardyth Lohuis, organ – Richmond, VA: Raven Recordings, (OAR 230), 1993 * ''Leo Sowerby: Music for Violin and Piano'' (Sonata in B-Flat, H165; Sonata in D, H 367; Two American Pieces, H 174) – Robert Murray, Violin; Gail Quillman, Piano – New York, NY: Premier Recordings, Inc., (PRCD 1049), 1995 * ''All American, Works for Violin and Organ, Volume 5'' (Elevation, H 66) – Robert Murray, Violin, Ardyth Lohuis, organ – Richmond, VA: Raven Recordings, (OAR 650), 2003 * ''Leo Sowerby: The Paul Whiteman Commissions & Other Early Works'' (Synconata, H 176a, Symphony for Jazz Orchestra, H 178) – Andy Baker Orchestra, Avalon String Quartet, Winston Choi, Piano – Chicago, IL: Cedille Records, (CDR 90000 205), 2021 * ''Trios from the City of Big Shoulders'', Lincoln Trio, Cedille CDR90000203 (2021), includes Trio for violin, violoncello and pianoforte, H. 312 (1953)
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References

External links

Art of the States: Leo Sowerby
*Buzard, Stephen. 2017

''Vox Humana'' (October 22, 2017). *Stover, Harold. 1995.

. ''The New England Organist'' (May–June). * *
Leo Sowerby Papers
a
the Newberry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sowerby, Leo 1895 births 1968 deaths 20th-century American composers 20th-century classical composers 20th-century American male musicians American classical composers American Conservatory of Music alumni American male classical composers Burials at Washington National Cathedral Classical musicians from Illinois Classical musicians from Michigan Composers for carillon Musicians from Chicago Musicians from Grand Rapids, Michigan Pulitzer Prize for Music winners Cedille Records artists