Everett Titcomb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
His anthems include “Behold Now Praise the Lord” and “O Love How Deep, How High, How Broad.”
