Harry Benjamin Jepson

Harry Benjamin Jepson (August 16, 1870 – August 23, 1952) was an American organist and composer and (starting in 1906) the first University Organist of Yale University.[1]

This article is about the American organist. For the rugby administrator, see Harry Jepson.
Harry Benjamin Jepson
BornAugust 16, 1870
New Haven, Connecticut
DiedAugust 23, 1952(1952-08-23) (aged 82)
Noank, Connecticut
Education
Occupation(s)Organist and composer
SpouseIsabella James

Jepson was born August 16, 1870, in New Haven, Connecticut.[2] Jepson studied at Yale under Horatio Parker and Gustave Stoeckel, earning a B.A. in 1893 and a B.M. in 1894. While at Yale he was the organist for New Haven's Christ Church (in 1889) and Old Center Church (from 1890 to 1894 where he was succeeded by Charles Ives).[3][4] He then studied in Paris under Charles Marie Widor and Louis Vierne.

He was appointed instructor at Yale in 1895, eventually rising to a full professorship in 1907.[2][5] He also directed the Battell Chapel choir.[6] He retired in 1939; Charles Kullman was among the performers at the musical service in held for his retirement.[7]

Among his students were Edward Shippen Barnes, Seth Bingham, and Edwin Arthur Kraft.[5]

Jepson died August 23, 1952, in Noank, Connecticut.[2]

Yale's Harry B. Jepson Memorial Scholarship is named after him, and he oversaw the design and construction of the renowned Newberry Memorial Organ in Yale's Woolsey Hall.

Selected works
  • Ballade for organ (c. 1907), dedicated to Florence Annette Wells, New Haven area organist and 1900 Yale graduate.[8][9]
  • Veni, Sancte Spiritus, anthem for chorus and organ.[7]

References
  1. "A New Endowment to Secure the Future of The Newberry Memorial Organ / Woolsey Hall Archived 2012-12-05 at the Wayback Machine" Accessed June 21, 2012.
  2. "Selected Compositions of Harry Benjamin Jepson; Misc. Ms. 216". Yale University Library.
  3. Perlis, Vivian (1975). Charles Ives remembered: an oral history (2. print ed.). New Haven: Yale Univ. Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-300-01758-8.
  4. Benjamin, W. H. (1908). Biographies of Celebrated Organists of America. Albany, New York: Benjamin Publishing Company. p. 77.
  5. "Edwin Arthur Kraft of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland" (PDF). The Diapason. 34 (3): 1. February 1, 1943.
  6. "Collection: Selected Compositions of Harry Benjamin Jepson ; | Archives at Yale". archives.yale.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  7. "Musical Service at Yale in Honor of Dr. H. B. Jepson" (PDF). The Diapason. 30 (7): 1. June 1, 1939.
  8. "[Ballade] Ballade for organ / [New York] : G. Schirmer, c1907. | Archives at Yale". archives.yale.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  9. e-yearbook.com (tm). "Yale University - Banner / Pot Pourri Yearbook (New Haven, CT), Class of 1900, Pages 126 - 143 *". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
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