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Mason, Lowell

(Encyclopedia)Mason, Lowell, 1792–1872, American composer and music educator, b. Medfield, Mass. While working as a bank clerk in Savannah, Ga., he helped compile an anthology that was published as The Boston Han...

polonaise

(Encyclopedia)polonaise pŏlˌənāzˈ, ōˌ– [key], Polish national dance, in moderate 3–4 time and of slow, stately movements. It evolved from peasant and court processions and ceremonies of the late 16th cen...

Boyce, William

(Encyclopedia)Boyce, William, c.1710–1779, English composer. After studying in London, he became a composer (1736) and later an organist (1758) of the Chapel Royal and Master of the King's Music in 1755. Although...

Porpora, Niccolò Antonio

(Encyclopedia)Porpora, Niccolò Antonio nēk-kōlôˈ äntôˈnyō pôrˈpōrä [key], 1686–1766, Italian composer and one of the greatest singing teachers. As an opera composer he was employed to be Handel's riv...

Bergmann, Carl

(Encyclopedia)Bergmann, Carl bĕrgˈmän [key], 1821–76, German-American musician and conductor. A cellist with the Germania Orchestra, he came with it to the United States in 1850 and subsequently in Boston beca...

Pepusch, John Christopher

(Encyclopedia)Pepusch, John Christopher pāˈpo͝osh [key], 1667–1752, German musician, who lived in London from 1700 until his death. As a theorist he became expert in Greek music and helped found (1710) the Aca...

contrabassoon

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Contrabassoon contrabassoon, large, deep-toned instrument of the oboe family, also called double bassoon. Its tube, over 16 ft (5 m) long, is doubled upon itself four times. It was first made ...

Hallelujah

(Encyclopedia)Hallelujah ăl– [key] [Heb.,=praise the Lord], joyful expression used in Hebrew worship; cf. Pss. 104–6, 111–13, 115–17, 135, 146–50. Christian liturgies make wide use of it, particularly at...

Diefenbaker, John George

(Encyclopedia)Diefenbaker, John George dēˈfənbāˌkər [key], 1895–1979, Canadian political leader. Elected to Parliament (1940), he succeeded George Drew as leader of the Progressive Conservative party (1956)...

Doane, George Washington

(Encyclopedia)Doane, George Washington, 1799–1859, Episcopal bishop of New Jersey (1832–59), b. Trenton, N.J. He acted as rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, N.J., and there he established a school for gir...