Jacob French

Jacob French (July 15, 1754 – May 1817)[1] was a singing master and one of the first American composers, sometimes called Yankee tunesmiths. "A student of William Billings, French adopted Billings' innovative approach to psalmody ... His music tends to be more complex in its structure, rhythm, and counterpoint than most of his contemporaries."[2] "Along with William Billings, he is regarded as one of the finest composer of anthems in the New England tradition."[3] French's Farewell Anthem appears in Southern Harmony, 1835, as well as The Sacred Harp from 1844 to the present.[4] He was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts. His brother, Edward, also composed a few tunes.[5]

Jacob French
Born(1754-07-15)July 15, 1754
Stoughton, Massachusetts
DiedMay 1817 (aged 62)
Simsbury, Connecticut
Occupation(s)Composer

Some of French's choral music was adapted by American composer John Cage for his Apartment House 1776 and subsequently arranged for string quartet as part of 44 Harmonies by violinist Irvine Arditti. These were recorded and issued by Mode Records along with adaptations by Cage of other Colonial-period hymnists.

Publications
  • The New American Melody (1789)
  • The Psalmodist's Companion (1793)
  • Harmony of Harmony (1802)

List of works
  • Heavenly Vision
  • Beauty
  • Dormant
  • Happiness
  • Farewell Anthem

(Scores available at the Choral Public Domain Library)

Discography

References
  1. American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music By Frank J. Metcalf , Published 2007 By READ BOOKS
  2. Jones, Daniel C. L., Editor. 1998. Jacob French (1754-1817): The Collected Works. New York: Garland. 331 pp.
  3. Steel, David Warren, and Richard H. Hulan. 2010. The Makers of the Sacred Harp. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. 322 pp.
  4. American Composer Timeline
  5. Singing Stoughton


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