Jacob French
Jacob French (July 15, 1754 – May 1817) was a singing master and one of the first American composers, sometimes called Yankee tunesmiths. "A student of William Billings, French adopted Billings' innovative approach to psalmody.. His music tends to be more complex in its structure, rhythm, and counterpoint than most of his contemporaries." "Along with William Billings, he is regarded as one of the finest composer of anthems in the New England tradition." French's Farewell Anthem appears in Southern Harmony, 1835, as well as The Sacred Harp from 1844 to the present.
Jacob French
- Name
- Jacob French
- Born
- 15 July 1754
- Birthplace
- Stoughton, Massachusetts
- Died
- May 1817 (aged 62)
- Place of death
- Simsbury, Connecticut
- Occupation
- Composer
- Nationality
- United States
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Jacob French (July 15, 1754 – May 1817) was a singing master and one of the first American composers, sometimes called Yankee tunesmiths. "A student of William Billings, French adopted Billings' innovative approach to psalmody.. His music tends to be more complex in its structure, rhythm, and counterpoint than most of his contemporaries." "Along with William Billings, he is regarded as one of the finest composer of anthems in the New England tradition." French's Farewell Anthem appears in Southern Harmony, 1835, as well as The Sacred Harp from 1844 to the present.
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Jacob French worked as a composer and was United States. Born in 1754 at Stoughton. Jacob French died in 1817, in Simsbury.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q6118642 · wikipedia · Jacob French
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was born in Stoughton, Massachusetts. His brother, Edward, also composed a few tunes. Some of French's choral music was adapted by American composer John Cage for his Apartment House 1776 and subsequently arranged for string quartet as part of 44 Harmonies by violinist Irvine Arditti. These were recorded and issued by Mode Records along with adaptations by Cage of other Colonial-period hymnists.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jacob French • Born — 15 July 1754 • Birthplace — Stoughton, Massachusetts • Died — May 1817 (aged 62) • Place of death — Simsbury, Connecticut • Occupation — Composer
List of works
List of works
• Heavenly Vision • Beauty • Dormant • Happiness • Farewell Anthem (Scores available at the Choral Public Domain Library)
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Stoughton.
Birth place
Simsbury.
Death place
Publications
• The New American Melody (1789) • The Psalmodist's Companion (1793) • Harmony of Harmony (1802)
Discography
• Sweet Seraphic Fire - New England Singing School Music • Make A Joyful Noise - The New England Harmony • The Heavenly Vision - Old Stoughton Music Sampler
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music By Frank J. Metcalf, Published 2007 By READ BOOKS
- 2.Jones, Daniel C. L., Editor. 1998. Jacob French (1754-1817): The Collected Works. New York: Garland. 331 pp.
- 3.Steel, David Warren, and Richard H. Hulan. 2010. The Makers of the Sacred Harp. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. 322 pp.
- 4.American Composer Timeline
- 5.Singing Stoughton
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 September 2026.
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