Mason, Lowell

doctor of music, a celebrated American composer of music, was born at Medfield, Mass., Jan. 8,1792. When but a child he exhibited extraordinary love and capacity for music, and began to teach early in life. In 1812 he removed to Savannah, Ga., and there compiled his first book of Psalmody, the celebrated Händel and Haydn collection, the success of which eliciting much persuasion of his musical friends in Massachusetts to settle in his native state, he removed to Boston in 1827, devoted himself to the musical instruction of children and the introduction of vocal music into the public schools of New England; caused the Boston Academy of Music to be established, and also "Teachers' Institutes" for the training of teachers and leaders of choirs. He visited Europe in 1837, and acquainted himself with all the improvements in the musical teaching on the Continent. In 1855 the University of New York conferred on him the degree of doctor of music, the first ever conferred by an American college. In the later years of his life he gave much attention to congregational singing in churches, and did much to advance the interests of Church music in general. He died at his residence, Orange, N. J., Aug. 11, 1872. His publications of interest to us are Juvenile Psalmist, Juvenile Lyre, etc. (Boston, 1829, '30, '34, '35, 36, '37, '39, '40, '45, '46; New York, 1856; Phila. 1843; Lond. 1838): — several sacred and Church music-books: — The Boston Händel and Haydn Collection of Church Music (1822): — The Choir, or Union Collection (1833, etc.); etc. Dr. Mason was the author and compiler of more musical works than any other American, and contributed much towards making the Americans a nation of "singing men and singing women." See Allibone, Dict Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Drake, Dict. Amer. Biog. s.v.