James, Philip

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Philip James, (1890-1975), American composer of choral and orchestral music, was born on May 17, 1890 in Jersey City, N.J., to a Welsh father and German mother. At an early age, he began piano, violin, and theory lessons, and served as choirboy in several New Jersey churches. He was deeply involved in the liturgy and music of the Episcopal Church and composed his first hymn at the age of ten. From 1904 to 1909 he studied organ with J. Warren Andrews and in 1907 began advanced harmony and counterpoint lessons with Homer Norris. After studying in Europe, he held positions as organist and choirmaster in many well-known New York City churches.

In World War I he served in the Army and was bandmaster at the American Expeditionary Forces Ban. Following the war he completed his music education and co-founded the New Jersey Orchestra, serving as its first conductor. He also became an instructor in 1923 in the newly formed music department at New York University. He was affiliated with New York University for 32 years, first as full professor, then from 1934 to 1955 as chairman of the department, and professor emeritus from 1955 to 1975.

In 1929 James became the regular conductor of the Bamberger Little Symphony over radio station WOR. He conducted the weekly broadcasts for nine years. In 1932 he won first prize of $5,000 in a National Broadcasting Company competition for original symphonic for American musicians with his satirical suite, "Station WGZBX."

During his lifetime he composed over 300 works, including a musical setting for tenor and male voices of the Vachel Lindsay poem, "Gen. William Booth Enters Into Heaven."

His honors include election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters; honorary Fellow of Trinity College of Music, London; and an honorary Doctor of Music degree from New York College of Music. He was president of the Society for Publication of American Music in 1946.

He married his first wife, Millicent Eady James, in 1916. She died in 1945 and he married Helga Boyer in 1952. They had two children, Vivian and Philip. Philip James suffered a heart attack in 1960 which, from then on, severely restricted his professional and social engagements, although he still actively composed music. He died on November 1, 1975, at his home in Southampton, Long Island. He was 85 years old.

From the guide to the Philip James Papers, 1929-1960, 1929-1936, (Mass Media and Culture)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Donald and Katharine Foley Collection of Penguin Books, 1935-1965 Bancroft Library
referencedIn The John Kirkpatrick Papers, 1836-1993 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn National Orchestral Association collection of rehearsal and concert recordings [sound recording], 1938-1968 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Joint Army and Navy Committee on Welfare and Recreation, Sub-Committee on Music Papers, 1941-1946 Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951. Serge Koussevitzky Archive, 1920-1976 (bulk: 1924-1951) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Oliver Tambo papers University of Connecticut. Libraries
referencedIn Little Orchestra Society concert recordings collection [sound recording], 1947-1957 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Philip James Papers, 1929-1960, 1929-1936 University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Correspondence and other papers of Arthur Sullivan, W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert, and related persons, 1834-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Foley, Donald L. person
associatedWith Foley, Katharine person
associatedWith Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991 person
correspondedWith Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951 person
associatedWith Little Orchestra Society corporateBody
associatedWith National Orchestral Association (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Tambo, Oliver, 1917- person
correspondedWith United States. Joint Army and Navy Committee on Welfare and Recreation. Sub-Committee on Music corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Occupation
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Person

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