Lowell Mason

History remembers him as the Father of American Church Music. A deeply religious man, Lowell Mason, made a profound impact on sacred music, as well as music education in the United States. He also made great contributions to the City of Savannah in the early part of the 19th Century; contributions that will never be forgotten.

Childhood

Lowell Mason grew up in a musical family. He was born in 1792 in Medfield, Massachusetts. His parents recognized his gift for music aptitude early on and encouraged his love of music. At the age of 13, he received his first musical training and during his teenage years he would learn to play several instruments and also began composing songs. His talent was so exceedingly extraordinary by the age of 18, he was music director at Unitarian Universalist Church in Medfield.

Move to Savannah

Not long after he became an adult, Mason moved south to Savannah. He began looking for employment and first was involved in a dry-goods business and subsequently was employed as a banker. But his first love was music, and he soon found himself leading the choir for weekend worship services at Savannah's Independent Presbyterian Church starting in 1815. Five years later, he added the title of organist to his list of responsibilities at the parish.

During this time, Mason also began taking music composition lessons from Frederick L. Abel, who immigrated to Savannah in 1817.  Within a few years, he was ready to publish a collection of hymns was but was rejected by several publishers. However, as luck would have it, the collection (entitled The Handel and Haydn Society’s Collection of Church Music) was finally published in 1822. Since he was a successful banker in Savannah by this point, Mason requested it be published anonymously. 

To Mason's wonderment, the collection became popular and eventually sold tens of thousands of copies, an impressive feat in the 19th century. 

During his time in Savannah, he took a wife (Abigail Adams), served as Secretary of the Savannah Missionary Society and was a pioneer for equal rights among races. At his initiative, the Historic First Bryan Baptist Church began (the first in the nation) Sunday school for black children 

Relocation to Boston

In 1827, when he was 35 years old, Mason relocated back to Massachusetts, this time settling in Boston. Within two years of his move north, he compiled and published the first collection of Sunday school Music, The Juvenile Psalmist. He produced a follow up collection in 1831 entitled The Juvenile Lyre.

His desire to teach music led him to co-found the Boston Academy of Music in 1833 with William Channing Woodbridge. In 1835, he was appointed Superintendent of Music for the Boston School System.

Move to New York

Mason retired from his position in Boston and relocated to New York City in 1851.  Soon after, he took a transatlantic cruise to Europe and toured the continent.  Upon returning, he secured the job of music director at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in mid-town Manhattan.  Having been immensely impressed on the congregational singing he found in Germany during his European tour, Mason worked to improve both the level of participation and the singing ability of his congregation and by the end of the 1850s, the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church had a reputation throughout New York as one of the finest for music. 

Retirement

Lowell Mason retired from active work in 1860 and moved to an estate in New Jersey.  He died on August 11, 1872 leaving behind two sons who were both in the music business.  His son Henry founded the Mason and Hamlin piano manufacturing business. His other son, William, became a composer.

Legacy

The papers of Lowell Mason are available for research at the Yale University Music Library

Savannah established a historical marker along Oglethorpe Avenue to honor his time in our city, across from Independent Presbyterian Church.