Composer Bio Information
Kirkpatrick, William James's bio information
Tuesday, February 27, 1838 - Tuesday, September 20, 1921
Born: February 27, 1838, Duncannon, Pennsylvania.
Died: September 20, 1921, Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Son of a school teacher and musician, Kirkpatrick grew up in a musical atmosphere. In 1854, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to study music and learn a trade; he spent over three years as a carpenter. But he was more interested in music than mechanics, devoting all his leisure time to its study. His ambition at the time was to become a violinist.
In 1855, Kirkpatrick joined the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, and from then on devoted himself mostly to sacred music, giving his services to the choir and Sunday school. As there were few church organs in that day, his violin and cello were in constant demand for choir rehearsals, singing societies, and church programs. During this time he wrote a number of unpublished hymn tunes and anthems.
Kirkpatrick studied vocal music under Professor T. Bishop, then a leading oratorio and ballad singer, and became a member of the Harmonia and Handel and Haydn Sacred Music Societies, where he heard the greatest singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral works of the great composers. Kirkpatrick’s first published composition was “When the Spark of Life Is Waning,” which appeared around 1858 in the Musical Pioneer in New York. He went on to publish about 50 hymn collections, many in collaboration with John Sweney. His works include:
The Wells of Salvation: Songs for the Sabbath School
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1881) (with John Sweney)
Winning Songs (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1892)
(with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour)
Songs of Love and Praise, No. 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
John J. Hood, 1896) (with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour)
Glorious Praise, with Howard Doane
(Louisville, Kentucky: The Baptist Book Concern, 1904)
Revival Melodies, 1921 (editor)
Waves of Glory No. 2, 1921 (editor)
Music
All over the World
Alone with God
Beautiful Robes
Beautiful Sabbath
Blessed Be the Name
Blessing in Prayer, A
By Grace I Will
Calling for You
Calvary’s Stream Is Flowing
Come, for All Things Are Ready
Come, Lord, and Let Thy Pow'r
Comforter Has Come, The
Cradle Song
Dear Jesus, Canst Thou Help Me?
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd
Deeper Yet
Father All Holy
Gathering Out of Tears
Give Me Thy Heart
Glory To God, Hallelujah
God So Loved the World
Greenwell
Hallelujah! Amen!
Hear and Answer Prayer
He Hideth My Soul
He Is All in All to Me
Healing at the Fountain
His Grace Aboundeth More
I’ll Bear It, Lord, for Thee
In Bethany
In the Book Which Thou Art Keeping
In the Twinkling of an Eye
Jesus, My Only Hope
Jesus Understands!
Keep in the Line
Keep Me Ever Close To Thee
Landås
Lead Me to Calvary
Let the Light Stream In
Like as a Father
Listen to the Blessed Invitation
Lo! the Golden Fields Are Smiling
Lord, I’m Coming Home
Meet Me There
Moline
No King but Christ
O to Abide in Jesus
O to Be Like Thee!
On the Cross of Calvary
Only His Love
Open Bible for the World, An
Praise Jehovah
Praise Ye the Lord
Redeemed
Salvation
Saved to the Uttermost
Saxony
Sing, My Soul!
Sing unto God
Singing I Go
Sometime
Stepping in the Light
Ten Thousand Thanks to Jesus
Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, Alone
’Tis Burning in My Soul
’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
True Shepherd, The
’Twill All Be Right at Last
Under the Blood
Wait, and Murmur Not
Watch and Pray
Watchman, Blow the Gospel Trumpet
We Have an Anchor
We Walk by Faith
Welcome for Me
When Love Shines In
When the Bridegroom Comes
You May Have the Joy-Bells
Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/k/i/r/kirkpatrick_wj.html
Died: September 20, 1921, Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Son of a school teacher and musician, Kirkpatrick grew up in a musical atmosphere. In 1854, he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to study music and learn a trade; he spent over three years as a carpenter. But he was more interested in music than mechanics, devoting all his leisure time to its study. His ambition at the time was to become a violinist.
In 1855, Kirkpatrick joined the Wharton Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, and from then on devoted himself mostly to sacred music, giving his services to the choir and Sunday school. As there were few church organs in that day, his violin and cello were in constant demand for choir rehearsals, singing societies, and church programs. During this time he wrote a number of unpublished hymn tunes and anthems.
Kirkpatrick studied vocal music under Professor T. Bishop, then a leading oratorio and ballad singer, and became a member of the Harmonia and Handel and Haydn Sacred Music Societies, where he heard the greatest singers of the day and became familiar with the principal choral works of the great composers. Kirkpatrick’s first published composition was “When the Spark of Life Is Waning,” which appeared around 1858 in the Musical Pioneer in New York. He went on to publish about 50 hymn collections, many in collaboration with John Sweney. His works include:
The Wells of Salvation: Songs for the Sabbath School
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1881) (with John Sweney)
Winning Songs (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1892)
(with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour)
Songs of Love and Praise, No. 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
John J. Hood, 1896) (with John Sweney & Henry Gilmour)
Glorious Praise, with Howard Doane
(Louisville, Kentucky: The Baptist Book Concern, 1904)
Revival Melodies, 1921 (editor)
Waves of Glory No. 2, 1921 (editor)
Music
All over the World
Alone with God
Beautiful Robes
Beautiful Sabbath
Blessed Be the Name
Blessing in Prayer, A
By Grace I Will
Calling for You
Calvary’s Stream Is Flowing
Come, for All Things Are Ready
Come, Lord, and Let Thy Pow'r
Comforter Has Come, The
Cradle Song
Dear Jesus, Canst Thou Help Me?
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd
Deeper Yet
Father All Holy
Gathering Out of Tears
Give Me Thy Heart
Glory To God, Hallelujah
God So Loved the World
Greenwell
Hallelujah! Amen!
Hear and Answer Prayer
He Hideth My Soul
He Is All in All to Me
Healing at the Fountain
His Grace Aboundeth More
I’ll Bear It, Lord, for Thee
In Bethany
In the Book Which Thou Art Keeping
In the Twinkling of an Eye
Jesus, My Only Hope
Jesus Understands!
Keep in the Line
Keep Me Ever Close To Thee
Landås
Lead Me to Calvary
Let the Light Stream In
Like as a Father
Listen to the Blessed Invitation
Lo! the Golden Fields Are Smiling
Lord, I’m Coming Home
Meet Me There
Moline
No King but Christ
O to Abide in Jesus
O to Be Like Thee!
On the Cross of Calvary
Only His Love
Open Bible for the World, An
Praise Jehovah
Praise Ye the Lord
Redeemed
Salvation
Saved to the Uttermost
Saxony
Sing, My Soul!
Sing unto God
Singing I Go
Sometime
Stepping in the Light
Ten Thousand Thanks to Jesus
Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, Alone
’Tis Burning in My Soul
’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
True Shepherd, The
’Twill All Be Right at Last
Under the Blood
Wait, and Murmur Not
Watch and Pray
Watchman, Blow the Gospel Trumpet
We Have an Anchor
We Walk by Faith
Welcome for Me
When Love Shines In
When the Bridegroom Comes
You May Have the Joy-Bells
Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/k/i/r/kirkpatrick_wj.html
Hymns Composed (29)
Blessed Be The Name Mens (TTBB) Buried With Christ Mens (TTBB) Christ Died For Me Mens (TTBB) Deeper Yet Mens (TTBB) Deeper Yet Mixed (SATB) Father All Holy Mens (TTBB) Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah Mens (TTBB) He Hideth My Soul Mens (TTBB) Him That Cometh Unto Me Mens (TTBB) In The Hush Of Early Morning Mens (TTBB) Jesus Saves Mens (TTBB) Lead Me To Calvary Mens (TTBB) Lord, I'm Coming Home Mens (TTBB) Meet Me There Mens (TTBB) My Savior Mens (TTBB) Redeemed (HZ 426) Mens (TTBB) Sing Unto God Mens (TTBB) Singing I Go Mens (TTBB) Stepping In The Light Mens (TTBB) The Word Of Life Mens (TTBB) Thou Hast Words Of Life Mens (TTBB) Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus Mens (TTBB) Wait, And Murmur Not Mens (TTBB) Wait, And Murmur Not - 2 Mens (TTBB) Watch And Pray Mens (TTBB) When Love Shines In Mens (TTBB) Whisperings Of Jesus Mens (TTBB) With Me All The While Mens (TTBB) You May Have The Joy-bells Mens (TTBB)The last 10 hymns uploaded.
- # 1 - Thy Light Is Come (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 07, 2024)
- # 2 - Open Now Thy Gates Of Beauty (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 07, 2024)
- # 3 - Of Thy Love Some Gracious Token (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 07, 2024)
- # 4 - There Is A River We All Must Cross (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)
- # 5 - When Israel, Of The Lord Beloved (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)
- # 6 - O God, Whose Presence Glows In All (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)
- # 7 - Lord, All I Am Is Known To Thee (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)
- # 8 - Lord, All I Am Is Known To Thee (SATB) (SATB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)
- # 9 - For All The Saints (Barnby) (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)
- #10 - From Greenland's Icy Mountain (TTBB) (uploaded on Dec 06, 2024)