Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 12, 1826

Death

:

November 25, 1899

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Robert Lowry was an American composer, teacher, and minister who lived from 1826 to 1899. He is best known for his contributions to Christian hymnody, having written over 500 hymns during his lifetime. Lowry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 12, 1826, to a family of musicians. His father, Thomas Lowry, was a well-known music teacher and composer, and his mother, Mary Porter Lowry, was a singer and pianist. Lowry showed an early interest in music and began studying piano with his father at a young age. He also learned to play the organ and the flute, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already composing his own music. In 1844, Lowry enrolled at the University of Lewisburg (now Bucknell University) in Pennsylvania, where he studied music and theology. He graduated in 1848 and was ordained as a Baptist minister the following year. Lowry's first job as a minister was at the First Baptist Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He also served as a pastor at several other churches in Pennsylvania and New York over the course of his career. In addition to his work as a minister, Lowry continued to compose music and teach music lessons. He was a popular lecturer on music theory and composition, and he wrote several books on the subject, including "Musical Gems" and "How to Teach Vocal Music." Lowry's most famous hymn is "Shall We Gather at the River," which he wrote in 1864. The hymn is based on the biblical story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The lyrics are simple and evocative, and the melody is memorable and easy to sing. "Shall We Gather at the River" quickly became a favorite of church congregations across the country and remains a beloved hymn to this day. Lowry also wrote several other well-known hymns, including "I Need Thee Every Hour," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," and "We're Marching to Zion." His hymns were known for their simple, singable melodies and their heartfelt, devotional lyrics. Lowry believed that music was an important part of worship and that hymns should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their musical ability. In addition to his work as a hymn writer, Lowry also composed several instrumental pieces, including marches, waltzes, and polkas. He was a skilled pianist and organist, and his compositions for these instruments were well-regarded in his time. Lowry's music was influenced by the popular music of his day, as well as by the hymns and spirituals of the African American church. Lowry died on November 25, 1899, in Plainfield, New Jersey, at the age of 73. He was remembered as a talented musician, a devoted minister, and a beloved teacher. His hymns continue to be sung in churches around the world, and his contributions to Christian hymnody have had a lasting impact on the music of the church.

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