York County ME Archives Biographies.....Emerson, Luther Orlando August 3, 1820 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/mefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carol Eddleman carolcurrieeddleman@gmail.com January 24, 2024, 5:51 pm Author: J. D. Warfield PROFESSOR LUTHER ORLANDO EMERSON. Luther Orlando Emerson, youngest son of Captain Luther and Elizabeth Usher (Parsons) Emerson, and grandson of Thomas Parsons, the original proprietor of the town, was born in Parsonsfield, August 3, 1820. He early manifested a taste and talent for music, inherited, in a greater or less degree, by the other members of the family which was cultivated as circumstances would best allow during his boyhood and the earlier years of his manhood. At the age of twenty-one he left home and went to Boston. His education had been obtained at the district school, Parsonsfield Seminary and Effingham Academy. He was full of energy, quick and versatile, an apt scholar and, with a view to entering the profession of medicine, he entered Dracut Academy, Massachusetts. But the great love and passion for music swerved him from that course, and now, having far better opportunities of cultivating and enjoying this taste and ability, he soon determined upon music as the profession of his choice. He accordingly commenced a course of musical instruction, under the late I. B. Woodbury. After several years of study on the voice, piano, organ and harmon}'', he went to Salem, Massachusetts, and began teaching, and there took charge of his first choir at a salary of -f 100 a year. Here, naturally, he began to compose for his choir, hymns and anthems, which were so successful with the congregation that he felt encouraged to collect them in book-form, as in a few years they had largely accumulated. This resulted in the "Romberg Collection," published in 1853, while he was still in Salem. This book was not a great success, although it contained some of Mr. Emerson's best efforts, as was proven when some years later he incorporated nearly one-half of this venture in a new collection. He was a young, unknown author, and it was not easy to find a firm willing to undertake the publication of his work. He remained in Salem six years, then returned to Boston and accepted the position of director of music and organist at Bulfinch Street Church, which position he held for four years. Meanwhile, he continued teaching, studying and writing music. In 1857 was published by Oliver Ditson & Co., the "Golden Wreath," by Emerson, a song-book for schools, which at once became very popular and met with a ready sale. The first year there were sold forty thousand copies, and the sale now amounts to over three hundred thousand. In 1858, he put forth the "Golden Harp," a Sunday-school book, which was also a great success. These efforts gave him not only encouragement but reputation, since which he has never been obliged to seek for a publisher. Leaving Boston, he accepted the position of organist and musical director in the Second Congregational Church, at Greenfield, Massachusetts, and was at the same time elected to take charge of the musical department of Powers' Institute, at Bernardston, Massachusetts, both of which positions he held for eight years. In 1860, he published a second book of church music, the "Sabbath Harmony," which took high rank and has had an extensive sale. Much of the better portion of this collection was taken from the "Romberg," which proves beyond a question that its failure was not due to lack of merit. The tune of "Sessions" alone, which it contained, would, had he never composed another, have immortalized his name. In 1863, he brought out the "Harp of Judah," the sale of which was unequaled by any book of its kind, reaching fifty thousand copies during the first three months. This book probably gave Mr. Emerson his pre-eminence as a composer of church music. From that time to the present, his church music books have taken the lead of all that have been published in the country. In 1866, the "Jubilate" was published. This was equally successful with the "Harp of Judah." Then followed in 1869 the "Choral Tribute"; in 1872, the "Standard"; in 1874, the "Leader"; in 1879, the "Voice of Worship," and "Emerson's Vocal Method." In all, Mr. Emerson has published fifty-one books for churches, schools, societies and the household, which together have had an aggregate sale of over a million copies. Notwithstanding all this labor, Mr. Emerson has written over fifty songs and pieces for the piano, most of which have had large sales and are well known. His war-song "We are coming Father Abraham," words by Bryant; "Negro Boatman's Song," words by Whittier, are too well known and appreciated to call for comment. Among those that are familiar may be mentioned "Out in the cold," "I have no mother now," "I'll paddle my own canoe," "The flower girl," "Though lost to sight to memory dear," "Sleep my baby, sleep and dream," "Star of the twilight," "Why did we meet?" "Why did we part?" "Parting whispers," "Alpine echo," "Little Gertie and Uncle True," "Mountain land" and "Star of descending night." Among his popular sacred songs are: "Stand up for Jesus," "Jesus loves me," "Tarry with me, oh my Saviour," "Rock of ages," "So the day of rest declineth," "When the hues of daylight fade," " O, praise the mighty God," "Daughter of Zion," "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah," etc., etc. Nearly all of his writings have been published by Oliver Ditson & Co. Of late years, Mr. Emerson has devoted his energies to the grand purpose of elevating the general character of music in our churches uplifting and upbuilding in its tendency, and thus largely advancing the interests of true worship. With this in view, he has taken a very active part in musical conventions and festivals, being engaged in this noble work for more than twenty-five years, during which period he has conducted over three hundred conventions throughout the country. These musical conventions have done more to create and foster a general interest in music than any other agency. The great Boston Jubilee owed its success in great measure to the hundreds of these con- ventions held in different parts of the country and especially in New England. As a conductor, Mr. Emerson ranks among the first. As a lecturer upon music, Mr. Emerson has attracted considerable attention, his best known lecture being that entitled "The World of Music." In this he traces its origin and progress, and gives some excellent lessons drawn from the lives of the great composers. He shows the design of music; how it has been prized in every age of the world, among all nations; its power in the church and state and the need of its influence in the family. He is now full of life and vigor, busy laboring in his chosen field, not chilled in his ardor, kindness and genuine hospitality by contact with the world's selfishness, nor wanting in that generosity of nature which has ever won him hosts of friends. Additional Comments: from A History of the First Century of the Town of Parsonsfield, Maine, Portland, Me., Brown Thurston and Co., 1888, pp. 246-249. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/me/york/bios/emerson64gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mefiles/ File size: 7.5 Kb