eHymns.org

Born: July 21, 1831, Poughkeepsie, New York.

Son of a Baptist preacher, Perkins came from a family of 10 children who sang and played various instruments. His music lessons began at age three. During his father’s pastorate at Hamilton, New York, choir rehearsals were often held at the parsonage; the leader would put the three year old on a small stool, on the table around which the choir was assembled, giving him a chance to both see and hear. Later, Perkins would play the violincello in church, standing on a stool to finger the instrument.

In 1839, the family moved to New York City, where Theodore studied the pianoforte. By age 19, while working as a clerk, he used all his spare time to study voice and piano. In 1851, he went to Hamilton, New York, to teach music at Madison University (later Colgate) and the Female Seminary.

In 1854, Perkins went to Port Jervis, New York, where he taught singing school. In 1855, he married Mary Caskey, who for years was his soprano soloist in many events. Soon after the marriage, they moved to Salem, New Jersey. In the summer of 1856, he and his wife studied at the Normal Academy of Music at North Reading, Massachusetts, under Lowell Mason and George Root. In 1859, Perkins became co-principal, with William Bradbury, of the Normal Academy of Music at Geneseo, New York. He also worked in schools in North Pelham, Ontario, Canada, and in Tunkhannock and Meadville, Pennsylvania, and served as musical director in numerous churches in Brooklyn, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also taught “voice culture” at Princeton and Lafayette Universities, the Union Theological Seminary, and Crozer Seminary. His works include:

* The Olive Branch, 1860
* Songs for Today (with Alfred Taylor and Charles W. Sanders) (New York: Biglow & Main, 1872)
* Calvary Songs (with Charles S. Robinson) (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: American Sunday School Union, 1875)
* Songs Tried and Proved (with Russell H. Conwell) (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: A. J. Rowland, 1896)
* Coronation Songs (edited by Dr. Deems)
* Free Sunday School Songs
* Glees and Anthems
* Gospel Tent Songs
* Hallowed Songs
* New Shining Star
* Oriental
* Psalm King
* Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs (edited by C. S. Robinson)
* Sabbath Anthems
* Sabbath Carols
* Shining Star
* The Evergreen
* The Golden Promise
* The Mount Zion Collection
* The Royal Standard
* The Sacred Lute
* The Safe-Guard Singer
* The Sunday School Banner
* The Union

Sources

* Hustad, pp. 65-9
* Nutter, p. 463

Music

1. Angel’s Proclamation, The
2. Dark is the Night
3. Father, When Shall All the Weary Earth
4. Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By
5. Keep Thou My Way
6. Lundie
7. Nazareth
8. Praise Ye Jehovah
9. Repentance

Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/p/e/perkins_te.html