Gustave J. Stoeckel
Encyclopedia
Gustave Jakob Stoeckel was a longtime music instructor
and college organist
at Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut
. Born in Bavaria, Stoeckel came to the United States in 1848, and joined the University in 1855 when he was appointed organist of Yale College Chapel. He pioneered Yale's program in music and was one of its first faculty, beginning to teach vocal music that same year. In 1868, he became the first faculty director of the Yale Glee Club
, Yale's oldest singing group, now a professionally led 80-voice choir of international fame.
Stoeckel compiled a hymnal with the title Sacred Music, first published in 1868. He held the position of organist at Yale's chapel for over 30 years, beginning in 1860 until his resignation in May 1894. He made his last appearance as a professor of music performing preludes and postludes
for the graduating class at the commencement exercise
s held in Battell Chapel
on Sunday, June 24, 1894.
Stoeckel Hall of Yale University is named in honour of Gustave J. Stoeckel. Since 1954, it has been used by Yale's School of Music
, and has been the home of the Yale College
Department of Music since its renovations were completed in January 2009. The building, at the corner of College and Wall Streets, was built in 1897 in the Venetian Gothic style, and is exemplary of the architectural variance and detail of Yale's buildings from that era.
Battell Chapel
is named for Joseph Battell
, whose 1854 gift enabled the university to begin offering music education
. Stoeckel Hall houses the Norfolk Summer School
headquarters, faculty studios, and the Oral History, American Music Project with its audio and videotaped interviews of Aaron Copland
, Charles Ives
, Duke Ellington
and others.
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
and college organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Born in Bavaria, Stoeckel came to the United States in 1848, and joined the University in 1855 when he was appointed organist of Yale College Chapel. He pioneered Yale's program in music and was one of its first faculty, beginning to teach vocal music that same year. In 1868, he became the first faculty director of the Yale Glee Club
Yale Glee Club
The Yale Glee Club is a mixed chorus of men and women, consisting of students of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1861, it is the third oldest collegiate chorus in the United States after the Harvard Glee Club, founded in 1858, and the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club,...
, Yale's oldest singing group, now a professionally led 80-voice choir of international fame.
Stoeckel compiled a hymnal with the title Sacred Music, first published in 1868. He held the position of organist at Yale's chapel for over 30 years, beginning in 1860 until his resignation in May 1894. He made his last appearance as a professor of music performing preludes and postludes
Prelude (music)
A prelude is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. The prelude can be thought of as a preface. It may stand on its own or introduce another work...
for the graduating class at the commencement exercise
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
s held in Battell Chapel
Battell Chapel
Battell Chapel at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was built in 1874-76 as a Civil War memorial, with funds donated by Joseph Battell and others of his family. The chapel was designed by Russell Sturgis, Jr. in High Victorian Gothic style of rough brown sandstone. It was the third of...
on Sunday, June 24, 1894.
Stoeckel Hall of Yale University is named in honour of Gustave J. Stoeckel. Since 1954, it has been used by Yale's School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
, and has been the home of the Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
Department of Music since its renovations were completed in January 2009. The building, at the corner of College and Wall Streets, was built in 1897 in the Venetian Gothic style, and is exemplary of the architectural variance and detail of Yale's buildings from that era.
Battell Chapel
Battell Chapel
Battell Chapel at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was built in 1874-76 as a Civil War memorial, with funds donated by Joseph Battell and others of his family. The chapel was designed by Russell Sturgis, Jr. in High Victorian Gothic style of rough brown sandstone. It was the third of...
is named for Joseph Battell
Joseph Battell
Joseph Battell was a publisher and philanthropist from Middlebury, Vermont. Battell is credited with preserving Vermont forest land including the land for Camel's Hump State Park. Battell edited a newspaper and authored several books, including the "American Morgan Horse Registry"...
, whose 1854 gift enabled the university to begin offering music education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
. Stoeckel Hall houses the Norfolk Summer School
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
headquarters, faculty studios, and the Oral History, American Music Project with its audio and videotaped interviews of Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
, Charles Ives
Charles Ives
Charles Edward Ives was an American modernist composer. He is one of the first American composers of international renown, though Ives' music was largely ignored during his life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Over time, Ives came to be regarded as an "American Original"...
, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and others.
External links
- Gustave J. Stoeckel, Sacred Music, paperback reprint by Kessinger (Kila, Montana: 2003), 168 pp. ISBN 0766154785
- David Stanley Smith, Gustave Stoeckel, Yale pioneer in music, Connecticut State Library Biographical Sketches, Vol. 73, No. 20, 1939
- Review of D.S. Smith's book on Stoeckel in The New England Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1940), p. 148)
- Luther Noss, '"Music Comes to Yale" in American Music, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Autumn, 1985), pp. 337–346
- Oral History, American Music (OHAM)