The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-26
DEATH OF PROF. SHEPARD
NOTED MUSICIAN PASSED AWAY
 YESTERDAY.

Age-Easter Sunday His Fifty
 seventh Birthday Anniyersary-Ar-
 ranged asBright College Years"
 The death of Professor Thomas G. Shepard, who for the past thirty-two years was director of the Yale Univer- sity Glee club, and was one of the best musicians in the United States, occur red at o'clock yesterday afternoon at the private sanitarium of Dr. Skinner on Grove street, of enlargement of the heart, from which he had been suffer- ing for about a year past. Although he had been in i'll health for some time. Professor Shepard's condition did n5L reach a serious stage until about three months ago. Since then he had been in a sritical condition. ....s ,e-.
 Not only was Professor Shepard one of the foremost musicians of this city, but was one of the most noted and well known throughout the country. He was appointed director of the Yale Glee club in 1873, and held that position at the time of his death, most nota- ble record. To his thorough and capa- ble training much of the success of the
 various glee clubs has been due. He was also an organist of note, and had been organist of the Church of the Re-
 deemer since May 1, 1888. Professor Thomas G. Shepard was
 born in Madison, this state, April 23, 1S4S, having thus attained his flfty-sev- enth birthday on Easter Sunday last. He was the son of Rev. Samuel N. Shepard, who was for thirty years pas tor of the Madison Congregational
 church. He was d large-hearted man., sincerely beloved by his people.
 Professor Shepard began to practice
 on the piano at the age of five. He was born musician, passionately fond of his art, to which he devoted his en- tire life. Tn 1860, at the age of twelve, he came to New Haven, where he be- gan to play at the First Methodist church. At this time the church had no organ, the music being furnished by a | double bank melodeon. Hither many people came to hear the playing of the I boy musician.
 In 1862 he became organist of Christ church, which position he held until | 1866. Tn the latter year he accepted the position of director of music at
 Center church, which position he held | with brilliant success until his resig- nation in 1879, when he became organist
 and director of Trinity church. He
 remained at Trinity church until 1885,
 when he accepted fattering offer
 
 of Meridian, where he continued with re
 markable success until May 1, 1888, the
 date of his appointment as organist
 and director of the Church of the Re-
 deemer, which position he has held ever since.
 As a musician his popularity was | very great. As a composer he was
 known throughout the country. As a musical trainer he developed some of
 the best music talent of New England. During the decade from 1862 to 1872 he gave many recitals and concerts,
 and acted for pianist for several choral societies which were in existence at | that time. In 1870 he was the business manager of the Beethovan Festival as ! sociation, which rendered several of l that great masters compositions. | In 1874 he was the conductor of a
 choral performance given at Center
 church with orchestral accompaniment, at which Buck s forty-sixth Psalm and
 Sir Arthur Sullivan's Te Deum were rendered.
 l In 1875 Professor Shepard conducted a three day musical festival at Meriden with marked success.
 I In 1875 he became conductor of the
 New Haven Oratorio society. Under his direction the socity gave many inn portant selections. He trained a chorus of $50 voices and the society was ac-
 companied by Theordore Thomas full
 orchestra. Some of the notable selec- I tions rendered were Coster's s'Naaman, ?
 Suilivafl's tProdigal Son. Mendels-
 sohn's Elijah and Bennett's Woman l of Samaria. ," His ccomplishments in
 this work brought him unbounded com l pliments for the skill and talent d1s- played. He resigned his position as di-
 rector of the Oratorio society in 1889 on ! account of ill health. a4. :. I Professor Shepard made a notable de-
 but in comic opera in 1882 with his suc-
 cess, "Pinkeese, which was given for
 six performances in this city during l that spring and summer, and was re- vived again in 1884. Since then it has been performed in various other places. In 1883 with a local company he pro-
 duced complete with full chorus, or
 chestra and full scenic effects Gou- | mods great masterpiece, Faust" the first complete performance of the work
 in this city. The work was the talk in
 musical circles in this city for long | period following it's rendition. | Besides t'Pinkeese,'' Professor Shep-
 ard was the composer of a large num-
 Der of popular compositions, glee club
 songs and sacred music. He was the | composer of 2"Yale Songs,'' the Quar- tet Hymns" and Yale Glees.'' There
 are probably few men so deeply appre-
 ciated by the students and graduates as | Professor Shepard was. Among the
 Yale pieces connected with his name is
 Bright College Years,' the grand Yale
 anthem which he arranged.
 | Professor Shepard was, for several | terms president of the Connecticut State Music. Teachers association. | Professor Shepard leaves a widow
 but no children. He is also survived by H,,,a ,s.,4a hT. "A