Webb, George James

Composer

b Berwick St John, Wilts (nr Shaftesbury) 1803, d Orange, New Jersey, USA 1887. A farmer’s son intended for the ministry who instead chose music for his profession. Studied at Salisbury Cathedral, became church organist in Falmouth, Cornwall, but emigrated to Boston, Mass, remaining for 40 years as organist of the Old South Church (where the American Hymn Society was to meet during its Conference in 2000). He conducted much choral and orchestral music, edited music periodicals and collections of Psalmody etc, and worked closely with Lowell Mason. Prof at Mason’s new Boston Academy of Music 1833, moving with him in 1870 to Orange, NJ, then to New York in 1876 where he taught singing. Returned to Orange in 1885. A member of the Swedenborgian Church. No.45.