Webb, George James

1803-1887

Teacher and conductor, associated with the beginning of modern musical life in Boston. Was born at Rushmore Lodge, near Salisbury, England. He prepared to enter the church, but ultimately made music his profession. He was organist at Falmouth, and in 1830 went to America and settled in Boston, Mass., where he was organist of Old South Church, and in 1836, with Lowell Mason, founded the Boston Academy of Music. He taught piano and singing and in 1840 became leader of the Handel and Haydn Society, in which position, as in his connection with the Academy of Music, he greatly advanced music in Boston. He removed to Orange, New Jersey, in 1870, and from 1876 to 1885 was a successful singing and piano teacher in New York. He retired to Orange in 1885 and died there two years later at the age of eighty-four. His compositions were mostly for church use and his many writings on musical subjects include Young Ladies' Vocal Class Book; Vocal Technics; Voice Culture; Cantica laudis; The Glee Hive and The New Odeon. With Lowell Mason he edited the Music Library, during 1835-1836, and with W. Hayward, he edited the Music Cabinet between 1837 and 1840.