The legacy of Everett Titcomb
Date
1990
DOI
Authors
Armstrong, Susan Ouellette
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Titcomb's compositions and writings are the products of
a life lived in New England, mainly in Amesbury and Boston.
Because the innovations that came about from the Oxford
movement reached that part of this country first, Titcomb
was one of the first church musicians to become involved
with its innovations.
Chapter 1 is devoted to a biographical account of his
early life in Amesbury, and documents his work at the Church
of the Messiah in Auburndale and Christ Church in Andover,
where he took the two positions immediately after his high
school graduation. Chapter 2 treats the fifty years that he
worked at St. John the Evangelist, building up the choir and
its repertoire to such an extent that other churches invited
the group to give liturgical recitals. Chapter 3 discusses
his teaching activities at the New England Conservatory,
Boston University, the Wellesley Conference, and his work
with the Schola Cantorum at the Church of St. John the
Evangelist, all of which influenced many young musicians who
brought their craft to churches throughout the United
States. Chapters 4-6 are devoted to his choral, organ, and
miscellaneous works: examples from unpublished manuscripts
will be discussed; premiers are documented, and excerpts of
correspondence from the composer are given concerning
specific works. His compositional style will be discussed
with assessments of individual works, and examples will be
given from the different styles and genres to which he
contributed. Chapter 7 discusses his writings, which deal
specifically with the work of an organist and choirmaster in
an Episcopal church. Titcomb's ideas concerning the musical
life of a parish will be examined, including his thoughts on
the performance of hymns, the choice of fitting music for
the liturgy, and the accompaniment of Plainsong.
Description
License
This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author.