Lowell Mason

MASON, Lowell. b. Medfield, Massachusetts, 8 January 1792; d. Orange, New Jersey, 11 August 1872. One of the most influential American church musicians and music educators of his day, he was born in a small town about 20 miles southwest of Boston. He attended the community school in Medfield and received his basic music education in the singing schools (class lessons in musical rudiments and choral singing). His musical talent soon showed itself, and by the age of 16 he was directing the choir in his local church and, at 18, the town band. Having no thoughts of making music his profession, Mason moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 1812 where he worked in a dry goods store in which he became a...