Everett Titcomb Explained

Howard Everett Titcomb (30 June 1884 - 31 December 1968) was an American organist, choir-director and composer.

Biography

Titcomb grew up in Salisbury Mills, Massachusetts as the son of butcher George Howard Titcomb (1844-1928) and Sarah Ella Prime (1850-1941).[1]

He served as the organist-choirmaster at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston from 1910 to 1959 and has been called a Boston church music institution [2]

Style and Works

Titcomb was a prolific composer for choir and organ.[3] His music has been characterized by John Ogasapian in the following manner:

"Titcomb's style is sectional, with abrupt changes and frequent cadences. Within sections, melodies are simply structured and harmonized. The result is naive and scarcely arresting; yet the music lies well for the voice and is extremely effective, even when done by a choir of limited capability."[4]

His popularity as a composer of choral anthems was noted by Fansler:

"The popularity of Titcomb's anthems resulted from their simple dignity. By means of full organ sonorities, Titcomb was able to please even the most sophisticated Episcopal congregation."[5]

Notes and References

  1. Armstrong . Susan Oulette . The Legacy of Everett Titcomb . The Tracker . 1987 . 31 . 1 . 23–29 . 12 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Guerrieri . Matthew . Rediscovering a piece of Boston's choral and architectural history - The Boston Globe . . 5 October 2020 . 27 February 2020.
  3. Armstrong . Susan Oulette . The Choral and Organ Music of Everett Titcomb . The American Organist . April 1989 . 23 . 4 . 64–69.
  4. Book: Ogasapian . John . 2007 . Church Music in America, 1620-2000 . Mercer University Press . 978-0-88146-026-1 . 246.
  5. Fansler . Terry Lee . 1982 . The Anthem in America: 1900-1950 . PhD . North Texas State University . 2020-09-26.