Joseph Funk
Encyclopedia
Joseph Funk was a pioneer American music teacher, publisher, and one of the first American composers.
Joseph Funk was born April 6, 1778 (though his gravestone states March 9, 1777), in Berks County, Pennsylvania
, the son of Henry and Barbara (Showalter) Funk, and a grandson of Bishop Henry Funck. Bishop Funck came to America in 1719, and was the first Mennonite bishop in America. As a boy, Joseph moved with his parents to Rockingham County, Virginia
, and spent the rest of his life there.
In 1804, Funk married Elizabeth Rhodes, and they had five children. After her death, he married Rachel Britton, and they raised nine children.
Joseph Funk was a member of the Mennonite Church. In 1847, he established the first Mennonite printing house in the United States
, at Mountain Valley, Virginia (renamed Singers Glen
in 1860). Funk and his sons were active in organizing and teaching many singing school
s in Virginia
.
Funk died December 24, 1862, and is buried in the cemetery at Singers Glen
.
Funk compiled and published seven books and periodicals:
The 1847 fourth edition of Funk's A Compilation of Genuine Church Music was the first publication by Joseph Funk and Sons at Singers Glen. The name was changed to Harmonia Sacra
in 1851. The book is still is in use by Mennonites today. The Southern Musical Advocate and Singer's Friend was a 16 page monthly periodical published by Funk from 1859 to 1861. It was a forerunner of The Musical Million and Fireside Friend, a periodical published by Funk's grandson, Aldine S. Kieffer
. Joseph Funk's sons continued the printing business after his death. The Ruebush-Kieffer Company purchased the press in 1878.
Joseph Funk was born April 6, 1778 (though his gravestone states March 9, 1777), in Berks County, Pennsylvania
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, the son of Henry and Barbara (Showalter) Funk, and a grandson of Bishop Henry Funck. Bishop Funck came to America in 1719, and was the first Mennonite bishop in America. As a boy, Joseph moved with his parents to Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, and spent the rest of his life there.
In 1804, Funk married Elizabeth Rhodes, and they had five children. After her death, he married Rachel Britton, and they raised nine children.
Joseph Funk was a member of the Mennonite Church. In 1847, he established the first Mennonite printing house in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, at Mountain Valley, Virginia (renamed Singers Glen
Singers Glen, Virginia
Situated between Little North Mountain and Interstate 81, Singers Glen, Virginia occupies the zip code 22850. Singers Glen is an historic settlement that is registered by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission and the United States Department of the Interior...
in 1860). Funk and his sons were active in organizing and teaching many singing school
Singing school
Historically, singing schools have been strongly affiliated with Protestant Christianity. Some are held under the auspices of particular Protestant denominations that maintain a tradition of a cappella singing, such as the Church of Christ and the Primitive Baptists...
s in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Funk died December 24, 1862, and is buried in the cemetery at Singers Glen
Singers Glen, Virginia
Situated between Little North Mountain and Interstate 81, Singers Glen, Virginia occupies the zip code 22850. Singers Glen is an historic settlement that is registered by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission and the United States Department of the Interior...
.
Funk compiled and published seven books and periodicals:
- Ein allgemein nützliche Choral-Music (1816)
- A Compilation of Genuine Church Music (1832)
- The Confession of Faith (1837)
- A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (1847)
- The Reviewer Reviewed (1857)
- The Southern Musical Advocate and Singer's Friend
- J. and D. Brenneman, Hymns
The 1847 fourth edition of Funk's A Compilation of Genuine Church Music was the first publication by Joseph Funk and Sons at Singers Glen. The name was changed to Harmonia Sacra
Harmonia Sacra
Harmonia Sacra is a Mennonite shape note hymn and tune book, originally published as A Compilation of Genuine Church Music in 1832 by Joseph Funk ....
in 1851. The book is still is in use by Mennonites today. The Southern Musical Advocate and Singer's Friend was a 16 page monthly periodical published by Funk from 1859 to 1861. It was a forerunner of The Musical Million and Fireside Friend, a periodical published by Funk's grandson, Aldine S. Kieffer
Aldine Silliman Kieffer
Aldine Silliman Kieffer was a leading 19th century proponent of shape note musical notation, music teacher and publisher....
. Joseph Funk's sons continued the printing business after his death. The Ruebush-Kieffer Company purchased the press in 1878.