Leo Sowerby

Sowerby began piano lessons when he was seven and was teaching himself theory from a textbook at 11. He shifted to Chicago in 1909 and continuing his music research while at Englewood SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. At age group 15, Sowerby received some cursory instructions in the body organ, but after that will be self-taught. Sowerby’s debut being a composer emerged in 1913 when the Chicago Symphony at an all-America concert performed his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Four years afterwards, Sowerby provided his first open public performance in the piano on the Norfolk, Connecticut, Celebration. His first couple of released compositions was a Woodwind Quintet (1916) and Serenade for string quartet (1917), that was a birthday show Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. In Dec 1917, Sowerby went in to the U.S. Military and offered for 15 a few months in Britain and France being a clarinetist and bandmaster. Sowerby continued to be in European countries after his release from the military and started composing some functions including his Initial Symphony, which resulted in him being granted the 1st American Prix de Rome in 1921. For another 3 years Sowerby resided in the American Academy in Rome, composing among others From your Northland a structure that would earn the Culture for the Publication of American Music Honor. Sowerby returned towards the U.S. in 1924 and started composing music embracing American idioms including two items for jazz music group, Syncopata and Monotony. Sowerby also adapted the favorite folk tune “Pop Runs the Weasel” and organized it for flute, oboe, clarinet, and oboe. In 1932, Sowerby became a member of the faculty from the American Conservatory in its structure department and continued to be there until 1962. He also offered as choirmaster and organist of St. Adam Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago from 1927 to 1961, where he composed a big body of music for chorus and body organ. His like of spiritual music resulted in his founding of the faculty of Church Music artists in Washington D.C., which he offered as movie director until 1968. Ahead of World Battle II, Sowerby was perhaps one of the most often performed American composers and by 1943, acquired received the Culture for the Publication of American Music Award four moments. He received the Pulitzer Award for music in 1946 for his The Canticle of sunlight, a cantata for chorus and orchestra, which utilized Matthew Arnold’s British translation from the canticle of St. Francis of Assisi. Afterwards awards consist of an honorary fellowship at Trinity University in London as well as the Royal College of Cathedral Music in Croydon, Britain (1963). In the same season, Sowerby was provided to Queen Elizabeth II.