J. Vincent Higginson
Life
Born: 17 May 1896
Died: 11 April 1994
Biography
Joseph Vincent Higginson, author of History of American Catholic Hymnals: Survey and Background (Hymn Society, 1982), Handbook for American Catholic Hymnals (Hymn Society, 1976), Hymnody in the American Indian Missions (Hymn Society, 1954), and author of several DNAH biographical essays. B.A. and M.A. (1939) in music from New York University. Studied under Gustave Reese, authority in medieval and renaissance music, Marion Bauer, and Mother Georgia Stevens, RSCJ, director of the Pius X School of Liturgical Music, New York City.
Organist at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Brooklyn 1939-1949; Blessed Sacrament Church in New York 1949-1953; Church of the Transfiguration in Brooklyn 1953-1961; Church of Saint Sylvester in Brooklyn 1961-1969.
Editor of Mediator Dei Hymnal (Gregorian Institute of America, 1955). The hymnal and some of his musical works were published under the pseudonym Cyr de Brant, based on his former name as a member of the Christian Brothers, Brother Anthony Cyril. Managing editor of The Catholic Choirmaster, journal of the Society of St. Gregory of America, until 1965. Editor for J. Fischer & Co. Named a Fellow of the Hymn Society of America, 1952. Granted the papal honor of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory in 1961. Retired 1969.
Composer of the hymn tune WHITEHILLS.
List of choral works
Click here to search for this composer on CPDL
Publications
External links
- At hymnary.org: [1]
- Obituary (Sacred Music, Fall 1994, p. 34) [2]
- Works by J. Vincent Higginson in the Petrucci Music Library (IMSLP)