Background

William Batchelder Bradbury was born on October 6, 1816, in York, Maine. He was the son of David and Sophia (Chase) Bradbury, and a descendant in the sixth generation from Thomas Bradbury who came from Derbyshire, England, to Agamenticus, now York, in 1634.

Education

The inheritance of a taste for music from his parents both of whom were "excellent singers, " the father being the leader of a choir, and the fact that he readily mastered any musical instrument that came to his hand, though he never saw a piano or organ until he went to Boston at the age of seventeen, is about the extent of the record of Bradbury's boyhood.

In Boston, he entered the family of Sumner Hill, from whom he received his first lessons in harmony. Later, having come under the influence of Lowell Mason, he became his pupil in Boston and a close follower of his methods, so that in 1836, he was sent to Machias, Maine, and later to St. John's, New Brunswick, to conduct singing classes.

Career

In 1840, Bradbury went to a Brooklyn church as organist and the next year to the First Baptist Church in New York. There and in other churches he instituted free singing classes similar to those of Lowell Mason in Boston, which in both instances led to the introduction of music in public schools.

At annual festivals held in the Tabernacle the singers, all children, at times numbered 1, 000. For use in these classes, festivals, and conventions he compiled many singing books adapted to the primitive needs of the time. In the first one, The Young Choir (1841), and in four later ones of more importance, The Psalmodist (1844), Choralist (1847), Mendelssohn Collection (1849), and Psalmista (1851), he was assisted by Thomas Hastings (1787 - 1872), pioneer in church choral singing and psalmody. The Shawm (1853), perhaps the most extensively used of any of the earlier books, included the sacred cantata "Daniel, " music by George F. Root and Bradbury, words by C. M. Cady and Fannie J. Crosby. The Jubilee (1858) had a sale of over 200, 000 copies; Fresh Laurels (1867), 1, 200, 000; The Golden Chain, about 2, 000, 000.

Esther (cantata, 1856) was a favorite production of money-making choirs throughout the country for many years. All together over fifty different books were published. They all followed much the same pattern, consisting of the rudiments of notation and sight-reading, exercises in part singing, short easy glees, hymn tunes, chants, and anthems, aiming to afford adequate training to young aspirants for the church choir.

While few of Bradbury's tunes are still in use, several have a strong hold on popular favor, e. g. , "Just as I Am" and "He Leadeth Me, " which are worthy examples of a sincere and simple musical expression of the sentiment of the text. The years 1847-49, were spent abroad, mostly in the study under Wenzel, Boehme, and Hauptmann at Leipzig, whence Bradbury sent letters to the New York Observer and other religious papers.

In 1854, assisted by his brother, Edward G. , and a German piano maker, he established the firm of Lighte, Newton & Bradbury, which soon became very successful as the Bradbury Piano Company, the instrument being endorsed by Theodore Thomas, William Mason, and many others. The business, later under the control of F. G. Smith, was finally absorbed by the Knabe Piano Company.

Bradbury died in Montclair, New Jersey.

Achievements

• William Bradbury's main achievement was in the establishment of the firm named Lighte, Newton & Bradbury, which soon became very successful as the Bradbury Piano Company. He is today regarded as a pioneer in music education for children in both the church and public schools. In spite of the many critical sneers at "sugared American psalmody" and the belittling of its' aesthetic value, it must be admitted that his music met the need of the time and fed the infantile musical life the country over as no other music could.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Elements of Plane Trigonometry: And Their Application to the Measurement of Heights and Distances, Surveying of Land, and Levellings : Particularly Adapted to the Use of High Schools and Academies

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

  • The Psalmodist: A Choice Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Chiefly New; Adapted to the Very Numerous Metres Now in Use, Together with Chants, ... Singing Schools and Musical Ass

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

  • New York Musical Pioneer and Choristers' Budget, Volume 1

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

  • Bradbury's Golden Chain of Sabbath School Melodies: Comprising a Great Variety of New Music and Hymns Composed and Written Expressly for the Sabbath ... Best of the Well Known Sabbath School Pieces

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

  • Fresh Laurels For The Sabbath School...

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

  • Oriola: A New and Complete Hymn and Tune Book for Sabbath Schools

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

  • The Solid Rock

    ( Digital Sheet Music of The Solid Rock Composed by: Wil...)

  • Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us...)

  • Rally Round the Flag

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Rally Round the Flag Composed b...)

  • New Praises of Jesus: A Collection of Choice Hymns and Tunes

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

  • Marching Along: The Popular Army Song and Chorus (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Marching Along: The Popular Army Song and Ch...)

Interests

• Music & Bands

  While a student, he came under the influence of Lowell Mason, who was a leading figure in American church music, the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today.

Connections

William Batchelder Bradbury was married to Adra Esther.

Father:

David Bradbury

Mother:

Sophia (Chase) Bradbury

Brother:

Edward G. Bradbury

Wife:

Adra Esther Fessenden Bradbury Taylor

7 August 1818 - 18 May 1892

References

• A HUNDRED YEARS of Music in America