John W. Bischoff

John W. Bischoff (27 November 1850 in Chicago – May 30, 1909 in Washington, DC)[1] was a blind musician and composer.

Blind from age two, Bischoff went on to become a noted organist, compiler of musical collections, and composer. He was the principal organist and choir director at the first Congregational Church in Washington from 1874 until his death in 1909.

Bischoff lost his sight at about two years of age, and attended the Wisconsin School for the Blind. Later he studied singing with Ludden and Bassini in Chicago and studied organ under Creswald. In 1875 he moved to Washington and became the principal organist and choir director at First Congregational Church, posts he held until his death.

He was a great composer and compiler of music, and was considered one of the greatest composers and greatest organists of the country.[2] His compilations included a significant number of his own works, including Crystal Songs (1877, with the help of Dr. Otis Presbrey[3][4]), Gospel Bells (1883, with Jeremiah Rankin),[5] God Be With You (1880), and Not Half Has Been Told (1877). Some of his works were published by Arthur P. Schmidt.[6] Much of his composing was done during the summer when he would visit his cottage on Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago.[7][8]

Bischoff married Mary Jane Vandergrift, daughter of Howard Vandergrift, in Mount Carroll, Illinois in about 1870. They had met in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where Bischoff lived at the time. They had two children, a son John E. and a daughter Lucile.[2] He divorced in 1895, and remarried to Elsie Bond Bischoff.[9]

Last photograph of Bischoff before his death in 1909.

Bischoff died the morning of May 30, 1909 of heart disease after three weeks of illness.[2][10] He was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery.[11]

Selected Compositions

  • Goodnight, Sweet Dreams
  • Unanswered
  • Bob o'Link
  • If God so clothe the grass
  • Five Little White Heads
  • I heard the voice of Jesus say
  • The Summer Wind
  • Forever and a day
  • Rose of Virginia

References

  1. ↑ "Musicsack". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Dr. John W. Bischoff Passes Quietly Away, The Washington Times (Washington, District of Columbia) May 30, 1909, page 3, accessed February 8, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8822636//
  3. ↑ Davison, Marjorie Risk (1966). "Excerpts from the History of Music in the District of Columbia". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 66/68: 182–190. ISSN 0897-9049. JSTOR 40067254.
  4. ↑ Metcalf, Frank J. (1926). "History of Sacred Music in the District of Columbia". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 28: 175–202. ISSN 0897-9049. JSTOR 40067279.
  5. ↑ Carl P. Daw, Jr., Glory to God: A Companion (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2016), p1188
  6. ↑ Cipolla, Wilma Reid (1990). "Marketing the American Song in Edwardian London". American Music. 8 (1): 84–94. doi:10.2307/3051937. ISSN 0734-4392. JSTOR 3051937.
  7. ↑ Music and Musicians, The Washington Herald (Washington, DC) June 13, 1909, page 15, accessed February 8, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8822777/music_and_musicians_the_washington/
  8. ↑ "THE DREAMS OF THOSE WHO CANNOT SEE; The Blind Have Visions -- but What Are They?---Those Who Cannot See the Outer World Answer the Question. DREAMS REVEAL REALITIES. In Sleep Human Beings Appear as They Are to the Blind". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  9. ↑ The Bischoff Divorce, Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) May 3, 1895, page 3, accessed February 8, 2017 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8822587/the_bischoff_divorce_evening_star/
  10. ↑ "Dr. John W. Bischoff". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "RA 1695-1 - Tomb of Dr. John W. Bischoff in Rock Creek Cemetery. | Historical Society of Washington DC". dchistory.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.


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