Phelps, Ellsworth C.

1827-

 

American composer; born at Middletown, Conn. He was his own teacher, and became organist in New London when only nineteen. He taught not only there but in Syracuse and New York with great success, and in 1857 went to Brooklyn, where he has been organist and teacher in public schools for over thirty years. He has written some two hundred works, including two comic operas; a sacred opera, David; four symphonic poems; two symphonies, Hiawatha, and Emancipation; two concert overtures; an elegie; 145th Psalm; and military band-music.