Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (August 18, 1856, Wilton, Iowa ? September 14, 1932, Hollywood, California) was a writer of gospel songs and composer of gospel tunes. He is said to have written and/or composed between 7,000 and 8,000 songs, many of which are available in 21st century hymnals. He used several pseudonyms, including Charlotte G. Homer, H. A. Henry, and S. B. Jackson.
Life
Charles Hutchinson Gabriel was born in Wilton, Cedar County, Iowa, and raised on a farm. His father led singing schools in their home, and young Charles developed an interest in music. It is said that he taught himself to play the family?s reed organ. Even though he never had any formal training in music, he began to travel and lead his own singing schools in various locations around the age of 17.
His musical talent was well recognized in his boyhood home of Wilton. There is one folklore story, that the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilton (Pastor Pollock or McAulay) once saw Gabriel walking in town early in the week. He asked Gabriel if he knew a good song to go along with his sermon. The pastor shared the sermon topic and by the end of the week the boy had written a song for that Sunday, words and music. The Rev. N. A. McAulay was a pastor at the Wilton church for many years, and it is also said that young Gabriel wrote the music for one of McAulay?s songs. The song, ?How Could it Be,? was later published in Songs for Service, edited by Gabriel, with the music being credited to ?Charles H. Marsh,? possibly one of Gabriel?s pseudonyms.
Eventually he served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, San Francisco, California (1890-2). While working at Grace Church, he was asked to write a song for a mission celebration. He wrote "Send the Light," which became his first commercial song. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, and in 1912 he began working with Homer Rodeheaver?s publishing company.
Gabriel was married twice, first to Fannie Woodhouse, which ended in divorce, and later to Amelia Moore. One child was born to each marriage.
He died in Hollywood, California. Gabriel wrote an autobiography titled Sixty Years of Gospel Song (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, undated).
General
Gabriel edited 35 gospel song books, 8 Sunday school song books, seven books for male choruses, six books for ladies, ten children?s song books, nineteen collections of anthems, 23 choir cantatas, 41 Christmas cantatas, 10 children?s cantatas, and books on musical instruction.
Among these publications are: Gospel Songs and Their Writers (Chicago, Illinois: The Rodeheaver Company, 1915) The Singers and Their Songs (Chicago, Illinois: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Church Music of Yesterday, To-Day and for To-Morrow (Chicago, Illinois: The Rodeheaver Company, 1921) Golden Bells (Chicago, Illinois: The Rodeheaver Company, 1923) (music editor) His "Dream of Fairyland" was an exceedingly successful children?s cantata, and sold well for several years. He considered his best work to be a sacred cantata for adult voices: "Saul, King of Israel.? He also had an interest in military bands, and wrote marches, waltzes, etc., for bands.
Gospel Songs and Hymns
?Gospel songs? are not necessarily published in the main hymnals used in denominational worship (they are typically found in evangelical Protestantism and are less prevalent in more liturgical churches), but Diehl?s index to denominational hymnals published from the 1890s to 1966 lists 37 tunes by Gabriel.
As a sample of Gabriel?s vast output, below are the Gabriel tunes from three songbooks and one denominational hymnal. This list omits tunes attributed to names that are possible Gabriel pseudonyms but includes lyrics published by Gabriel under a known pseudonym. Note that none of these sources published one of Gabriel?s most popular songs, ?Brighten the Corner Where You Are? (1913). (Rétracter)...(Lire la suite)
Give God the Glory Bk 1 In "Give God the Glory"
Books one and two, I have
chosen what I believe to
be the best known and
loved hymns to Christians
around the world. Book one
contains: A Mighty
Fortress Is Our God, Abide
With Me, All Hail the
Power of Jesus' Name,
Faith of Our Fathers,
Holy, Holy, Holy, I Heard
the Bells on Christmas
Day, Joyfully, Joyfully,
We Adore Thee, Onward
Christian Soldiers, Rock
of Ages and We Gather
Together. These hymns may
be played as easy beginner
solos or as a duet with
the optional jazzy chord
accompaniments. I have
tried to the best of my
ability to pattern these
books after my book "Merry
Christmas From Middle C"
published by Neil A. Kjos
Music Company in 2012.
"Ragtime and Blues" Bk 1 My students
genuinely seem to
enjoy these original
blues and rag. Kjos
WP 1173
http://www.jwpepper.
com/sheet-
music/search.jsp?
keywords=Phil+Hamm
"Merry Christmas From Middle C" "Merry Christmas
From Middle C" There
are 18 Christmas
songs for the
beginning pianist.
These solos stand
alone, but included
are jazzy
accompaniments that
give these old
favorites a new and
exciting sound.
Published through
Neil A. Publishing
Company WP1164
"Ragtime and Blues" Bk 2 My students
genuinely seem to
enjoy these original
blues and rag. Kjos
WP 1174
http://www.jwpepper.
com/sheet-
music/search.jsp?
keywords=Phil+Hamm
Give God the Glory Bk 2 In "Give God the
Glory" Books one and
two, I have chosen
what I believe to be
the best known and
loved hymns to
Christians around
the world. Book two
contains: Amazing
Grace, Angels From
the Realms of Glory,
At the Cross, Have
Thine Own Way, Lord,
Jesus Loves the
Little Children,
Jesus Wants Me For a
Sunbeam, Nothing But
the Blood of Jesus,
Oh, How I Love
Jesus, Oh, When the
Saints Go Marching
In, Sweet Hour of
Prayer, What a
Friend We Have in
Jesus. These hymns
may be played as
easy beginner solos
or as a duet with
the optional jazzy
chord
accompaniments. I
have tried to the
best of my ability
to pattern these
books after my book
"Merry Christmas
From Middle C"
published by Neil A.
Kjos Music Company
in 2012.
Jazzy Hymn Arrangements This book contains 24 easy to play hymn arrangements at the intermediate level.
"Jazzy Christmas Arrangements" These 18 easy to play jazzy arrangements, plus a bonus sacred medley, were created for the intermediate pianist. There is plenty of room left for the more advanced player to improvise. These selections include Auld Lang Syne, Away In A Manger, Deck The Halls, Go Tell It On The Mountain, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark, The Herald Angels Sing, I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day, Jingle Bells, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Joy To The World, O, Christmas Tree, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, The First Noel, Up On The Housetop, We Three Kings, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and the bonus Sacred Holiday Medley.
"Hymns I Know" Book one Christian book for beginners.
Jazzy Hymn Arrangements BK 2 These 18 easy to play jazzy arrangements, plus a bonus sacred medley, were created for the intermediate pianist. There is plenty of room left for the more advanced player to improvise.