J. W. Bischoff
John W. Bischoff (27 November 1850 in Chicago – May 30, 1909 in Washington, DC) was a blind musician and composer. Blind from age two, Bischoff went on to become a noted organist, compiler of musical collections, and composer. He was the principal organist and choir director at the first Congregational Church in Washington from 1874 until his death in 1909. Bischoff lost his sight at about two years of age, and attended the Wisconsin School for the Blind. Later he studied singing with Ludden and Bassini in Chicago and studied organ under Creswald. In 1875 he moved to Washington and became the principal organist and choir director at First Congregational Church, posts he held until his death. He was a great composer and compiler of music, and was considered one of the greatest composers and greatest organists of the country. His compilations included a significant number of his own works, including Crystal Songs (1877, with the help of Dr. Otis Presbrey), Gospel Bells (1883, with Jeremiah Rankin), God Be With You (1880), and Not Half Has Been Told (1877). Some of his works were published by Arthur P. Schmidt. Much of his composing was done during the summer when he would visit his cottage on Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago. Bischoff married Mary Jane Vandergrift, daughter of Howard Vandergrift, in Mount Carroll, Illinois in about 1870. They had met in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where Bischoff lived at the time. They had two children, a son John E. and a daughter Lucile. He divorced in 1895, and remarried to Elsie Bond Bischoff. Bischoff died the morning of May 30, 1909 of heart disease after three weeks of illness. He was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery. |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 27, 1850, Died 1909
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1897 - 1926
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Berliner | 3901 | 7-in. | 11/3/1897 | Good night | Jean Moeremans | Saxophone solo | composer | |
Victor | BVE-34574 | 10-in. | 3/2/1926 | Om Gud så kläder gräset | H. William Nordin | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | [Trial 1913-04-12-03] | Not documented | 4/12/1913 | Goodnight, sweet dreams | Alice Everson | Female vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | [Trial 1916-10-07-01] | Not documented | 10/7/1916 | Rest | Eva Bodine | Female vocal solo, with piano | composer | |
Columbia | 38183 | 10-in. | 8/5/1912 | I heard the voice of Jesus say | Frank Croxton | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | 45927 | 10-in. | 8/7/1915 | Take me, Jamie dear | Marie Sundelius | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | W106772 | 10-in. | March 1926 | Our darling (Polka) | Ehrenwert Instrumental Quintette | Instrumental quintet | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bischoff, J. W.," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111023.
Bischoff, J. W.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111023.
"Bischoff, J. W.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: John W. Bischoff
Discogs: J. W. Bischoff
Allmusic: J. W. Bischoff
IMSLP: J. W. Bischoff
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Bischoff, J. W. (John W.), 1850-1909 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98069966
Wikidata: John W. Bischoff - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q15452554
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/53766988
MusicBrainz: John W. Bischoff - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7bb1b0ab-0d05-4664-9e24-bfd22301eb72
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