Benjamin Colman Blodgett

Background

Benjamin Blodgett was born on March 12, 1838, in Boston, Massachussets, United States, the son of Henry and Louise (Allen) Blodgett.

Education

Benjamin Blodgett received his first musical instruction from James Hooton, pianist, and W. R. Babcock, organist. In 1858 he went to Leipzig, where three years were spent in study with Moscheles, Plaidy, Richter, and Hauptmann.

Career

At the age of twelve Benjamin Blodgett became organist of the Essex Street Congregational Church, and three years later of the Eliot Church in Newton. Then he became organist of the Park Street Church in Boston, and was active as a teacher and concert pianist. His work from 1865 as teacher of music at Maplewood Institute, Pittsfield, Massachussets, led to the organization of a separate music school in 1870, under Blodgett's direction. He became director of music and teacher of piano playing at Smith College, Northampton, Massachussets, in 1878, and two years later assumed the direction of the School of Music affiliated with the College. He remained in this position for twenty-five years until 1903.

The educational work done by Blodgett at Northampton was advanced and noteworthy. He gave frequent lecture-recitals, displaying marked powers as a pianist and ability in speaking. A personal friend of Wagner, Blodgett attended the first performance at Bayreuth in 1876, and the first performance of Parsifal in 1882.

In 1904 Blodgett went to Leland Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, as organist and director of the choir, with a daily organ recital in the chapel as a part of his duties. The destruction of the chapel by the earthquake of April 1906 interrupted this series, and shortly afterward Blodgett retired from active musical work. His last years were spent with his family in Seattle, Washington.

Achievements

• Benjamin Blodgett was a prolific musician. His organ playing was distinguished by an unusual talent for improvisation. His famous published compositions include etudes for the piano, church music, and a cantata, "The Prodigal Son" (1895).

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Prodigal Son: A Scriptural Cantata, Op. 32

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

Connections

Benjamin Blodgett was married on March 5, 1862, to Alethea E. Pulsifer of Newton, Massachussets.

Father:

Henry Blodgett

Mother:

Louise (Allen) Blodgett

Spouse:

Alethea E. (Pulsifer) Blodgett