Baldwin, Samuel A. (Samuel Atkinson), 1862-1949

Organist at City College of New York.

Samuel Atkinson Baldwin was an American organist, composer, conductor, and teacher. He was born in Lake City, Minnesota on January 25, 1862, and received his first musical training in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he studied with Frank Wood and Alfred Goodyear. He made his professional debut at the age of 15, and at the same time became organist in the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. In 1880 he went to Dresden to study organ with Gustave Merkel, composition with Franz Wüllner, counterpoint with William Rischbieter, and piano with Jean Louis Nicodé. After graduating from the Royal Conservatory at Dresden in 1885, he returned to the United States, taking up positions in Chicago (Plymouth Church, 1885-1889), and in St. Paul and Minneapolis (1889-1895). In 1895 he became organist at the Church of Intercession in New York, and was later organist at Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn (1902-1911).

In 1907 he became chairman of the music department at City College, a position he held until retirement in 1932. Beginning in 1908, he gave semi-weekly organ recitals. By the time of his retirement, he had given 1,362 recitals. Among the testimonials he received were a bronze tablet in honor of his eight-year performance, a gold medal and flag of New York City presented on May 20, 1923 in honor of his 900th performance, and a testimonial flag presented by Mayor John F. Hylan and City College in honor of his 1,000th recital on March 8, 1925.

He was one of the founders of the American Guild of Organists. Though he wrote symphonies and overtures, he is remembered primarily for the anthem "Tarry with me." He died on September 15, 1949, leaving a wife, the former Anna Jones, and a son, Walter D. Baldwin.