Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

February 10, 1819 in Boston, MA

Death

:

May 7, 1900 in Detroit, MI

 

Richard Storrs Willis was an American composer, music critic, and editor who lived from 1819 to 1900. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel Willis, a prominent journalist, and his wife, Hannah Parker Willis. Richard was the youngest of their seven children, and he grew up in a family that valued music and the arts. As a child, Richard showed a natural talent for music, and he began studying the piano and the violin at a young age. He also showed an interest in composition, and he began writing his own music when he was just a teenager. In 1837, when he was 18 years old, he enrolled at Yale University, where he continued his musical studies and began to develop his skills as a composer. After graduating from Yale in 1841, Willis moved to Europe to further his musical education. He spent several years studying in Germany, where he was exposed to the works of some of the greatest composers of the time, including Beethoven, Schubert, and Mendelssohn. He also studied with some of the leading music teachers of the day, including Felix Mendelssohn's teacher, Carl Friedrich Zelter. In 1844, Willis returned to the United States and settled in New York City, where he began working as a music critic and editor. He wrote for several newspapers and magazines, including the New York Tribune and the Musical World and Times. He also served as the music editor for Harper's Weekly for many years. Despite his busy career as a music critic and editor, Willis continued to compose music throughout his life. He wrote a wide variety of works, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, and songs. Some of his most famous works include the hymn "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," which he wrote in 1850, and the opera "The Death of Minnehaha," which premiered in 1865. Willis was known for his skillful use of melody and harmony, as well as his ability to write music that was both beautiful and accessible. He was also known for his ability to write music that was well-suited to the text, whether it was a hymn or an opera libretto. In addition to his work as a composer and music critic, Willis was also a respected music educator. He taught at several institutions, including the New York Academy of Music and the National Conservatory of Music. He was also a founding member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), which was established in 1914 to protect the rights of composers and publishers. Throughout his life, Willis remained committed to promoting the development of classical music in the United States. He believed that American composers had the potential to create music that was just as great as that of their European counterparts, and he worked tirelessly to support and encourage them. He was also a strong advocate for music education, believing that every child should have the opportunity to learn and appreciate music. Richard Storrs Willis died in 1900 at the age of 81. He left behind a legacy of beautiful music, insightful criticism, and passionate advocacy for the arts. His contributions to the development of classical music in the United States continue to be felt today, and his music remains beloved by audiences around the world.

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