Eric DeLamarter (February 18, 1880 – May 17, 1953) was an American composer and classical organist.

Biography

Eric DeLamarter was born in

Lansing, Michigan Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County, Michigan, Eaton County and nort ...

on February 18, 1880, the child of Dr. Louis and Mary B. DeLamarter., page 182, September-October 1926 article on Michigan Musicians. He attended public schools in

Kalamazoo Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 73,598. It is the principal city of the Kalamazoo–Portage metropolitan are ...

, then

Albion College Albion College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Albion, Michigan. The college was founded in 1835 and its undergraduate population was approximately 1,500 students as of Fall 2021 ...

., page 182, September-October 1926 article on Michigan Musicians. He was a music critic for the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'' in 1909, 1910, 1915, and 1916. He served as assistant conductor of the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the ensemble has been based in the Symphony Center since 1904 and plays a summer season at the Ravinia F ...

from 1918 to 1933 and from 1933 to 1936 he served as their associate conductor. He was also an uncredited orchestra conductor in the 1946 film ''

Humoresque Humoresque (or in German, ) is a genre of Romantic music characterized by pieces with fanciful humor in the sense of mood rather than wit. Notable examples Notable examples of the humoresque style are: *Robert Schumann: '' Humoreske'' in B-flat m ...

''. Among his pupils was Leon Stein. Eric DeLamarter was a composer, church organist, and music and drama critic of ''

The Inter Ocean The ''Chicago Inter Ocean'', also known as the ''Chicago Inter-Ocean'', is the name used for most of its history by a newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, from 1865 until 1914. Its editors included Charles A. Dana and Byron Andrews. Histor ...

''. He was also a close friend and adviser to

Leo Sowerby Leo Salkeld Sowerby (1 May 1895 – 7 July 1968) was an American composer and church musician. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1946 and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid-20th century. His many s ...

as well as a champion of Sowerby's music. DeLamarter aided Sowerby in his becoming an accomplished organist. In 1915 he was organist at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL. The following year he commissioned and gave the premiere performance of Sowerby's '' Comes Autumn Time''. He died in

Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

on May 17, 1953. The Lila Acheson Wallace Library of

The Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

has several of his holographs as well as printed items. The

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

Library holds the

holograph An autograph or holograph is a manuscript or document written in its author's or composer's hand. The meaning of " autograph" as a document penned entirely by the author of its content (as opposed to a typeset document or one written by a copy ...

of his organ concerto and a number of printed items.

References

External links

Eric De Lamarter Papers
at The Newberry * 1880 births 1953 deaths American male classical composers 20th-century American classical composers 20th-century American male musicians Musicians from Lansing, Michigan Classical musicians from Michigan Musicians from Chicago Classical musicians from Illinois American classical organists 20th-century American organists American male conductors (music) 20th-century American conductors (music) Albion College alumni {{US-composer-19thC-stub