Peter Wilhousky Explained

Peter J. Wilhousky
Birth Date:13 July 1902
Birth Place:Passaic, New Jersey, US
Death Place:Norwalk, Connecticut, US
Occupation:Director of music in New York City schools and conductor of the New York All-City High School Chorus
Known For:English language setting of "Carol of the Bells"; arrangement of "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

Peter J. Wilhousky (Ukrainian: Пітер (Петро) Вільговський; 13 July 1902 – 4 January 1978) was an American composer, music educator, and choral conductor of Ruthenian descent.[1] [2] [3] During his childhood he was part of New York's Ukrainian Cathedral Boys Choir and gave a performance at the White House to President Woodrow Wilson.[4] He was featured on several broadcasts of classical music with Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra, including the historic 1947 broadcast of Verdi's opera Otello.

In 1936, Wilhousky wrote a popular English version of the Ukrainian song "Shchedryk" by Mykola Leontovych and called it "Carol of the Bells". Wilhousky's 1944 choral arrangement of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959 with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Grammy-winning performance, and has become "arguably the most well-known choral arrangement of a hymn or anthem in the United States."[5] [6] [7]

Former students

As a choral director in New York City, he influenced the future careers of musician Julius La Rosa and scientist Stephen Jay Gould.[8]

Personal life

Wilhousky passed away in 1978 on January 4th at the age of 75, from cancer at Norwalk Hospital. Wilhousky Street in Manville, New Jersey is named after him.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tomkiw . Lydia . Toll of the Bells The forgotten history of nationalism, oppression, and murder behind a Christmas classic . Slate.
  2. Web site: Gressa . Greg . Peter J. Wilhousky. Carpatho-Rusyn Knowledge Base . 24 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Honchock . Sadie . PETER WILHOUSKY, A RELATIVE AND RUSYN COMPOSER . Rusyn Society . 24 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Carol of the Bells . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328050901/http://carols.co/carol-of-the-bells/ . Sean . Spurr . Christmas Carols . 26 July 2011 . 28 March 2012.
  5. Web site: Billboard Hot 100 . Billboard . 26 October 1959 . 28 February 2023.
  6. News: Choral directors are feted by choir: Association members join in singing choir's signature tune . R. Scott . Lloyd . Deseret News . 11 March 2006 . 2 December 2022.
  7. Battle Hymn of the Republic . The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square . YouTube (official channel) . 2 December 2022.
  8. News: Strike Up the Choir! . Stephen Jay . Gould . Stephen Jay Gould . . 6 November 1988 . 2 December 2022.
  9. News: 1978-01-06 . Peter Wilhousky, Director of Music For Public Schools . 2024-07-04 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.