Jacob  Henry Hall

The subject of this sketch and author of this book, Jacob Henry Hall, was born January 2, 1855, near Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Ya. This is the most beautiful section of the Old Dominion, the great Shenandoah Yalley of Virginia. He is a son of George G. and Elizabeth (Thomas) Hall. His father, being a farmer, brought up his son in the same vocation, and he served his time faithfully until he became of age. His parents and their entire family were quite musical. On his father’s side his ancestry are English and Scotch, and on his mother’s side German. The boy Avas always fond of helping his mother, and was her gardener as long as he remained at home.

He was passionately fond of music from childhood and his father sent him to the singing schools taught by Prof. Timothy Funk and others, where he learned to read music by note when but a small boy. During the winter months he attended literary school.

When a child a lady presented him with a mouth-organ and the music (if it could be called music) which he made always seemed to have more charm for himself than for any other member of the household. Later on by his industry he made money enough trapping quails to purchase a German accordion, which he soon learned to play one part while he would sing another, and this was to the delight of all. Still later an elder brother and himself purchased an organ. In a few months, and without the aid of a teacher, he learned to play hymn-tunes, gospel songs, anthems, etc.

He always seemed to possess a rare determination to succeed in learning the “divine art,” and the real dream of his boyhood was to become a musician and teacher. While working on the farm he would spend the evenings and rainy days reading, singing and studying theoretical works, preparing for his life-work. When eighteen years of age he called on Prof. H. T. Wartman, the most prominent musician at that time in Harrisonburg, for advice concerning the study of music. Their little conference was a pleasant one, and the professor presented the young aspirant with a copy of the “Keystone Collection,” by A. N. Johnson, a large book which contained nearly one hundred pages of Rudiments, Voice, Discipline, etc. He soon mastered its contents. Professor Wartman invited him to attend his classes in Harrisonburg and other places, which he did with much profit. The young man also studied theory, harmony and composition w4th him, and he became his favorite pupil, and assisted him in his classes.

In 1877 he attended a Normal Music School at New Market, Ya., conducted by Profs. B. C. Unseld and P. J. Merges. Here he got a clearer conception than ever before what music teaching really meant. He was perfectly delighted with the methods. At the close of this school he entered into a partnership with Professor Wartman in conducting singing schools and conventions, in which they were eminently successful. After two years of this pleasant association. Professor Wartman moved to Florida ; thus the partnership was dissolved.

In 1879 he attended another normal conducted by Professors Unseld and Merges. Mr. Hall was now able to do splendid work in the field of song and by his industry and enthusiasm he steadily gained prestige as a teacher.

Re now decided to obey that Bible injunction that says, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” So on January 23, 1883, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Frances Bowman, daughter of Eev. Joseph and Sarah (Flory) Bowman, a lady that has ever since been a helpmate truly and indeed, and who has ever encouraged Mr. Hall in his musical work. They reside in Dayton, Ya., where they have a pleasant home. Their only child, Charles Ernest Hall, is a highly accomplished musician.

In 1885 he published a small collection of music, entitled, ” Hall’s Songs of Home.”

In 1888 he attended another normal conducted by Professors Unseld and Merges.

The Kuebush-Kieffer Company now solicited the services of Mr. Hall to help make a class book. ” The Star of Bethlehem ” was the result of this effort. He wrote the Kudiments and arranged the book into Departments. It was a great success.

In 1890 he attended Dana’s Musical Institute, Warren, Ohio. Here he made a fine record. He went out from this school with renewed energy into his normal work. In 1891 he invented ” Hall’s Music Chart,” the greatest chart of its class. The late Professor Kieffer said, ” ‘ Hall’s Music Chart ‘ is the most comprehensive and complete chart in the world.” In the same year ” Practical Yoice Culture ” was brought out. Also in the same year he attended a normal conducted by Dr. Geo. F. Root and Prof. F. W. Root, at Silver Lake, N. Y., and Dr. H. R. Palmer’s School of Music, at Chautauqua, N. Y. These schools opened up a new musical world to him.

Li 1892 “Fountain of Praise ” was issued. In the same year he became a member of The Ruebush-Kieffer Company, and was chosen to assist Prof. A. S. Kieffer in editing tlie Musical Million^ and he served in that capacity doing editorial work for seventeen years. Also in said same year he attended another session of Dr. Root’s normal.

In 1893 “The Messenger of Song ” was issued. In 1894 ” Crowning Day, No. 1 ” was issued. In the same year he attended the Philadelphia Summer School of Music, conducted by such eminent teachers and lecturers as Drs. Wm. Mason, W. S. B. Mathews, H. A. Clarke, and H. G. Hanchett, Profs. F. W. Root, W. H. Sherwood, L. C. Elson, C. AY. Landon, J. C. Fillmore and others. Also in the same year he studied harmony with Dr. H. S. Perkins in The National College of Music, Chicago, and at the same time studied voice with Profs. D. A. Clippinger and C. B. Shaw.

In 1895 “Choir Anthems” and ” The Yocal Gem” were published ; 1896, ” Crowning Day, No. 2 ” ; 1897, ” The Normal Banner ” and ” Practical Harmony and Composition”; 1898, “Crowning Day, No. 3″; 1899, ” Sacred Hymnal ” ; 1900, ” Crowning Day, No. 4 ” ; 1901, “Male Quartets”; 1902, “Crowning Day, No. 5”; 1903, “Chorus and Choir”; 19Ul, ‘^ Crowning Day, No. 6,” and ” Practical Music Reader ” ; 1905, “Golden Thoughts and Memoirs”; 1906, “Sunlight of Praise ” ; 1907, ” Male Quartets, No. 2 ” ; 1908, ” Crowning Day, Nos. 1-6,” combined. This book contains only the cream of this famous series of gospel song books, and is by far the best gospel song book that has yet been published by The Ruebush-Kieffer Company. 1909, ” Life and Light ” ; 1910, ” Temperance Songs “; 1911, “Spirit of Praise,” with Profs. C. C. Case and Wm. J. Kirkpatrick, associates ; in 1912, ” Hall’s Quartettes for Men,” published by D. W. Crist, Moultrie, Ohio. This is his finest quartette- book. In 1913 ” Sacred Melodies ” was issued. The above is a partial list of Mr. Hall’s more important works to date, and are all with the above exception published by The Ruebush-Kieffer (Company, Dayton, Va. Some of his most popular gospel songs are : ” Hurry and Tell Him,” ” The Gospel Invitation,” ” Open the Windows of Heaven,” “Go and Tell Others the Story,” “Jesus is Your Friend,” “Helpers Are Needed,” “We will Walk and Talk with Jesus,” etc.

Through hard work, energy and close application, Mr. Hall has achieved success in his chosen profession. He worked his own way, and now often wonders how he surmounted the many obstacles which obstructed his path. He is principal of the National Normal School of Music, and has held sessions of this popular Institute in twenty different states, and has had as many as eight different states represented in a single session. It is an established fact that among the most practical musicians, authors and teachers, are those who have been trained and educated in first-class normals.

As a teacher and instructor. Professor Hall has few equals. Clear, original and logical in his methods, firm in his convictions, yet kind, pleasant and unassuming in his manner, he immediately wins the respect and confidence of his pupils. His true manliness and integrity are above reproach. He js a member of the Brethren Church, and has conducted the music in a number of conferences and revivals ; also directed the music in some of the late Rev. Sam Jones’ great meetings. Long may he live and write many more beautiful gospel songs for the uplifting and betterment of humanity.