John Ness Beck

John Ness Beck (November 11, 1930 – June 25, 1987) was a composer and arranger of choral music. He was best known for his very popular and accessible settings of traditional Sacred music. Beck was a conductor and arranger of international renown. His works are highly celebrated and performed by high school, college, church, community, and professional choirs across the globe today.
Biography
John Ness Beck was born in Warren, Ohio. After graduating from Warren G. Harding High School in 1948, he enrolled at The Ohio State University. In 1952 he graduated from Ohio State with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees with a major in English. After working for a year in Student Union activities at the State College of Washington, he spent two years in the U.S. Army. During this time, he became increasingly involved in arranging for various musical groups. After his discharge from military service, he returned to Ohio State and completed Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in music with composition as his major.
Mr. Beck was a faculty member of the Ohio State University School of Music for seven years, teaching harmony and theory. He left the university to become owner and manager of The University Music House, a retail sheet music store in Columbus. In this capacity, he was able to observe the business side of the music industry, gaining insight into the complexities of music publishing and merchandising. As his compositions found their way into print and popularity, he joined forces in 1972 with John Tatgenhorst in the creation of Beckenhorst Press. His reputation as a composer and his experience as a choral director soon led to an increasing demand for appearances as guest conductor and lecturer at various musical clinics and festivals throughout the country. He remained active in the field until his death from cancer in 1987.
John Ness Beck Foundation
Mr. Beck established the John Ness Beck Foundation in 1987, only a few months before his death. The Foundation was established in memory of Randall Thompson and Joseph W. Clokey. It recognizes outstanding achievement in choral composition and arrangement of traditional church music, enhances and furthers the careers, study, education and experience of promising composers and arrangers, and promotes and stimulates the learning of choral composition and traditional church music.
The stated goal of the foundation is to encourage and promote the writing of traditional sacred music. The Foundation has sought to honor this goal in several ways. For several years, scholarships were awarded to students from the Westminster Choir College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who exhibited promise in the writing of sacred choral music. At present, the Foundation has embarked on a program which recognizes current composers of traditional sacred choral music by selecting two compositions yearly which best exemplify the type of writing that fit the criteria set forth by John Beck.
Arrangements and compositions
Amazing Grace
America the Beautiful
And in That Day
And the Child Grew
Anthem of Unity
The Armor of God
As the Rain
Assurance
Battle Cry of Freedom
Benediction (God Be With You Til We Meet Again)
Canticle of Praise
Celebration
A Child's Noel
Christmas Carols and Codas
--- Angels We Have Heard On High
--- The First Noel
--- Good Christian Men, Rejoice
--- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
--- Joy to the World
--- While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Christmas Welcome
Consecration
Contemporary Music for the Church Service
Cry Aloud
Devotion
Divided Our Pathways
Ease My Mind, Lord
Easter Canticle
The Easter Vigil of Mary Magdalene
Every Perfect Gift
Every Valley
Exhortation
Faith of Our Fathers
Foundation
Gethsemane
Gloria
The God of Abraham Praise
God of Grace
Have Ye Not Known?
He Shall Feed His Flock
Help Us Accept Each Other
A Holy Festival
A Hymn for Advent
Hymn for Easter Day
Hymn for Our Time
Hymn of Courage
Hymn of Fellowship
Hymn to David
Hymn to God the Father
I Can Do All Things
I Need Thee Every Hour
If You Love Me
In Heavenly Love
In Memoriam
Interpreted By Love
It Is Well With My Soul
A Joyful Noise
Jubilant Canticle
Jubilo, Jubilate
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Kingsfold [I Feel the Winds of God Today]
Let Us Break Bread Together
Litany of Thanksgiving
Look for a Sunrise
Lord, Here Am I
Lullaby
The Name of Jesus
A New Heart I Will Give You
O Come, Let Us Sing
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Of the Father's Love Begotten
Offertory
Once in Royal David's City
Osanna
Prayer to Jesus
Psalm 24
Psalm 46
Psalm 67
Psalm 121
The Quiet Heart
Rejoice in the Lord Alway
Rejoice, the Lord Is King
The Shepherds
Sing Unto Him
Something
Song of Exaltation
Song of Hope
Song of Moses
Song of the Apostle
Speak to Me, Lord
The Spirit Leads On and On
A Spiritual Song
Still, Still With Thee
Strong Son of God, Immortal Love
The Sunlit Hour
Tenting Tonight
Thanksgiving!
There's a Song in the Air
Thou Art God!
Two Carols for Advent
Upon This Rock
Variants On an Irish Hymn
Victory
Visions of St. John
We Gather Together
When Morning Gilds the Skies
Where Is the Child?
Who Shall Separate Us?
Ye Shall Go Out With Joy
The Young Lions
External links
John Ness Beck Foundation
1930 births
1987 deaths
20th-century American composers
20th-century American conductors (music)
20th-century American male musicians
American choral conductors
American male conductors (music)
American male composers
Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences alumni
People from Warren, Ohio
Sacred music composers