JustSheetMusic
Portrait of Richard Storrs Willis

Composer

Richard Storrs Willis

American composer of hymn music (1819-1900)

1819–1900

13 works in the index

Born
1819
Died
1900
Birthplace
Boston
Citizenship / historical state
United States
Period (estimated from birth year)
Romantic

Biography

Richard Storrs Willis (February 10, 1819 – May 10, 1900) was an American composer, mainly of hymn music.

His best known melody is probably the one called, simply, Carol. This is the standard tune, in the United States, though not in Great Britain, of the much-loved hymn "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" (1850), with lyrics by Edmund Sears.

He was also a music critic and journal editor.

Biography excerpt from Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting and reference markers have been removed; the introduction may be shortened. View contributors and article history.

Source revision used for this excerpt

Life and musical career

Occupations
journalist; composer; music critic
Education
Yale College
Teachers
Moritz Hauptmann
Recorded memberships
Skull and Bones
Notable works
CAROL
Languages used
English
VIAF ID
4515928
ISNI
0000000083520220
GND ID
137819072
Library of Congress ID
no95041378
MusicBrainz ID
7eb17272-ac63-41e7-aeec-a38088014fb5

Recorded in Wikidata. Affiliations may refer to earlier stages of the composer's career.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Choir, Organ, Vocal, Accordion, Autoharp
Genres represented
Christmas, Classical, Blues, Children, Jazz
Works with composition dates
0 of 13

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear — —— Piano, Harp, Organ, Guitar, Flute, Voice, Vocal, Choir, Recorder, AccordionBlues, Jazz, Classical, Pop, Christmas 60
Fairest Lord Jesus — —— Organ, Vocal, Autoharp— 1
"Christmas Tunes for String Trio — —— violin, ViolaClassical, Children, Christmas 2
A medianoche se oyó — —— Choir— —
A Child is born in Bethlehem — —— Choir— —
A Boy is Born in Bethlehem — —— Choir— —
A Babe is Born in Bethlehem — —— Choir— —
Deck the Halls — —— Choir— —
Christmas Tunes for Wind Quartet — —— —Classical, Christmas 1
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear — —— —— 0
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Score — —— —— —
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Score and Parts — —— —— —
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear — —— —— 78

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 4515928. Portrait: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.