Bowman, Edward Morris

1848-

Eminent American organist. Born in Vermont. Has studied music since his childhood, having his first instruction at Canton, New York.  His family moved to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1862, where he became organist of Holy Trinity Church and also gave music lessons. In 1866 he went to New York where he studied the piano with Mason and the organ and theory with John P. Morgan, and was organist of Old Trinity Church. From 1867 to 1872 he was in St. Louis, Mo., as teacher, conductor and organist. In 1872 he went to Europe, with his wife who was an artist of some ability. He remained three years, most of which time he spent in Berlin, where he studied the piano with Franz Bendel, the organ with Haupt and theory and composition with Weitzmann, also studying registration for part of the year in Paris, with Batiste. Returning to St. Louis, in 1874, he remained in that city until 1887, with a trip to Europe in 1881, when he was the first American to pass the examination of the London Royal College of Organists. Since 1887 he has been in Brooklyn, where he is organist of the Baptist Temple. From 1891 to 1895 he was professor of music at Vassar College. In 1895 he organized in Brooklyn the Temple choir, of two hundred voices, which he still conducts. Bowman has served three terms as president of the Music Teachers' National Association. In 1884 he helped to found the American College of Music, for which he served as president for eight terms, being now honorary president and trustee. He is also one of the founders of the American Guild of Organists. He is beside a very successful teacher and has published Bowman's Weitzmann's Manual of Musical Theory.