 Ebeneezer Beesley LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p.739-740
Beesley, Ebenezer, director of the Tabernacle choir from 1880 to 1889, was born Dec. 14, 1840, at Bicester, Oxfordshire, England, eldest son of Wm. S. Beesley and Susannah Edwards. As a child Brother Beeseley was naturally endowed with musical talent, which showed itself as early as the age of two years. At that time the Wesleyan Methodist choir of his native town met for practice at the home of his parents. The child was found to be joining in the singing and was soon able to take his part with the rest; in fact, Brother Beesley does not remember the time when he could not sing. When he was six years old some prominent ladies offered to have him trained as a choir boy at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, but his parents could not consent to part with him, as he was then the only child, his younger brother having recently died. He is now thankful that he remained with his parents, for they soon afterwards joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and thus he became acquainted with the gospel as revealed by God in these days. He was baptized Sept. 22, 1849, by Elder Thos. Tanner, at Woodburn Green, Buckinghamshire, and emigrated to Utah in 1859, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Wm. Tapscott," and the plains in Captain Geo. Rowley's hand-cart company; arrived in Salt Lake City, Sept. 4, 1859. He first settled in Tooele city, where he remained for a year and a half, and became identified with the Sunday school work there. He was also ordained a Seventy, Aug. 20, 1860, by George Atkin and became identified with the 43rd quorum of Seventy. In 1861 he removed to the Nineteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, where he was called upon by Superintendent William Asper to lead the singing in the Sunday school. There were no Sunday school song books in use at that time, and the music had to be copied by hand. This eventually gave rise [p.740] to the call on the "Juvenile Instructor" to print songs with the music, to which request the publishers promptly responded. The publication of Sunday school songs, mostly by our own composers, has been continued up to the present time, Brother Beesley undertaking the labor of revising and preparing the music for the printer for many years. Brother Beesley also led the Nineteenth Ward choir for a number of years, and under his leadership many of our present best known singers gained their first experience in public singing. Soon after arriving in Salt Lake City, Elder Beesley began a systematic study of the violin under Professor Charles J. Thomas, and in 1863 joined the Theater orchestra, of which he is still a member. Later, he studied the violin and harmony under Professor George Careless, and soon after commenced to compose Sunday school and other hymn tunes for general use. He has taken particular interest in compiling these productions and also those of his fellow composers into book form. The first of Brother Beesley's books was a small pamphlet, containing the most frequently used congregational hymns set to the old tunes; next came a larger book of hymns and anthems for the Tabernacle choir. Then he compiled a book of songs and hymns to be used in the mutual improvement associations. He also compiled and supervised the publication of the present Sunday School Union Song Book, being assisted in this labor by Elder Thos. C. Griggs. His latest efforts, in the direction of music books, was the production of the Latter-day Saints Psalmody, he being the prime mover in the matter. In this he called to his aid such composers as George Careless, Joseph J. Daynes, Evan Stephens and Thomas C. Griggs. Brother Beesley, however, had general oversight of the work, and in addition to writing many new pieces, arranged the old tunes for congregational singing, and made many selections from other composers. All this, with proof reading, etc., required constant labor for many months, but the Psalmody, on its completion, proved at once to be of great assistance to the choirs of the Church everywhere. During the absence of Professors Thomas and Careless, for several months he took charge of the Salt Lake Theater orchestra, and enjoyed the support of many of Utah's best instrumentalists. In August, 1880, he was appointed leader of the Tabernacle choir, and held that position for over nine years; and by the assistance of the orchestra was enabled to give several successful concerts in Salt Lake City and the adjacent towns. After retiring from the Tabernacle choir, Brother Beesley, by invitation of Bishop Thomas Atkins, of Tooele city, moved again to that quiet little town for the purpose of training the choir and teaching music. He remained there four and a half years, then removed to Lehi, Utah county, where he followed the same line of work for two years. During that period he had the satisfaction of seeing the two choirs which he had trained take the first and second prizes at the Eisteddfod given in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in 1898, and he now possesses a gold medal which was presented to him on that occasion. Brother Beesley was for many years, and is still, captain of the martial band attached to the second regiment of the Nauvoo Legion. The Union Glee Club and other musical societies might be mentioned wherein he has taken an active part and enjoyed the association of congenial friends. Now in his more advanced years he is enjoying the satisfaction of having spent the most of his past life in his favorite occupation, and in nothing does he feel more pride than in the good he has been able to do among the youth of Zion. |
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