Lowell Mason

Lowell Mason (1792-1872) is best known as the founder of music education in the American school system. He was widely recognized for composing and arranging many well known hymn tunes and published many influential tune books that had a national audience. Mason's work as a pioneer in music education first started at the Boston Academy of Music, which he co-founded in 1833 with George James Webb.

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Lowell Mason

American Composer

Lowell Mason wrote over 1,600 religious works, and is often called the “father of American church music.” His works include "Nearer, My God, to Thee," "My Faith Looks Up to Thee," and "From Greenland's Icy Mountains." In addition to these accomplishments Mason set the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" to music. It has also been widely debated whether the tune of the famous hymn and Christmas carol "Joy to the World" was written by George Frideric Handel or by Mason himself.

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American Composer

The Lowell Mason House

The birthplace of Lowell Mason is in Medfield, Massachusetts and dates back to the early 1700's. Mason's family home currently stands at 25 Adams street and is scheduled for demolitionon on March 8, 2011. The Medfield Historic commission has invoked a 1 year suspension of the demolition so that alternatives can be pursued to save this historical landmark.

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The Lowell Mason House

Music Educator

Lowell Mason is widely considered as the “Father of Music Education”. In 1837 – 1838 Lowell Mason taught vocal music at Hawes Grammer School in South Boston on an experimental basis. The success of that experiment led to a landmark resolution in August 1838 where music would be instituted into the curriculum of the Boston Public schools. He was also President of the Handel and Haydn Society and in 1853 Mason received America's first Honorary Doctorate of Music from New York University.

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Music Educator

Blogs

Sat, 07/31/2010 - 11:05

Music Educators rally behind the effort to save Lowell Mason's birthplace

Pictured above left to right Tom Scotti, Secretary, and Bob Luttman, Co-President, of the Lowell Mason Foundation exhibiting at Music Education Week in Washington, D.C. (Read more)

Thu, 05/20/2010 - 13:03

Phase I Fundraising - Preparing For The House's Future

 Lowell Mason was the first music teacher in American public schools, founder of Boston Academy of Music, and proponent of congregational singing in churches.  He wrote over 1,600 hymns and is well known to music educators. 

Fri, 05/07/2010 - 23:44

Renowned Music Education Historian Argues Lowell Mason House Be Preserved

MENC posted a message about the effort to save the Lowell Mason House and noted a letter to the Medfield paper written by prominent music education historian Michael Mark, who urges the Lowell Mason House be preserved. Mark is a  member of the Music Educators Hall of Fame, honored for his own contribution to music education and music education history.

Fri, 05/07/2010 - 21:38

Medfield historian aims to rally support for saving Lowell Mason House

A Historical Commission hearing was held March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at the Medfield Town Hall, at the request of a Needham developer to demolish the home. A demolition delay bylaw in the town calls for the commission to review any demolition requests for homes older than 50 years. See article about meeting posted on Wicked Local on March 1, 2010.

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