Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

August 30, 1820 in Sheffield, MA

Death

:

August 6, 1895 in Bailey Island, ME

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

George Frederick Root was an American composer, born on August 30, 1820, in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He was the fourth child of his parents, who were both musically inclined. His father, Solomon Root, was a singing teacher, and his mother, Phoebe Root, was a pianist. George showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Root's family moved to New York when he was six years old, and he continued his musical education under the tutelage of his father. He also attended the New York Institute for the Blind, where he learned to read Braille music notation. At the age of 18, Root moved to Boston to study music with Lowell Mason, a prominent music educator and composer. In 1844, Root moved to New York City, where he worked as a music teacher and composer. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented composer and arranger, and his works were published by some of the leading music publishers of the time. Root's early works were primarily hymns and sacred music, but he also composed secular songs and instrumental music. Root's most famous work is the Civil War song "The Battle Cry of Freedom," which he wrote in 1862. The song became an instant hit and was widely sung by Union soldiers during the war. Root also wrote several other popular Civil War songs, including "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" and "Just Before the Battle, Mother." In addition to his Civil War songs, Root composed a wide variety of music, including operas, cantatas, and instrumental works. He was also a prolific songwriter, and his songs were performed by some of the leading singers of the day, including Jenny Lind and Emma Abbott. Root was a pioneer in the use of shape-note notation, a system of music notation that uses different shapes to represent different pitches. He also played an important role in the development of American music education, and his music textbooks were widely used in schools throughout the country. Root died on August 6, 1895, in Bailey Island, Maine, at the age of 74. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to be performed and enjoyed today. His contributions to American music and music education have had a lasting impact, and he is remembered as one of the most important composers of the 19th century.

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