Today we start the rest of the alphabet featuring activities, characteristics and other things in the life of John Hallett: From A to Z.
Arranger
In addition to composing original compositions, John Hallett also was an arranger. To arrange means “to adapt (a musical composition) by scoring for voices or instruments other than those for which originally written.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrange )
John arranged music in many venues. He arranged music weekly for The Children’s Bible Hour, a national radio broadcast for children originating from Grand Rapids, Michigan. This was a live weekly program for which he had to arrange all of the music.
For fourteen years he was a music editor for the Rodeheaver Puclishing Company, which included choral and instrumental arranging. In addition to arranging for The Rodeheaver, Hall-Mack Co, he was published by Broadman Press, Hope Publishing Co, Singspiration Publishing Co., Gospel Publishing House, Word-Rodeheaver Publisher& Gospel Publishers, Salvation Army Publishers, Lexicon Music Publishers.
John arranged for the John Hallett Chorale and Orchestra, a well known group in the Northeastern portion of the United States.
He also studied privately under noted conductor-arrangers Erik Leidzen and Emil Soderstrom. These men, in turn, arranged some of John’s music.
His arrangements included choral, orchestral, piano, vocal solo for professional as well as amateur singers.
Accompaniment
John was an excellent accompanist….one who performed with a soloist or ensemble.
One of his friends, Dr. Carl (Kelly) Bihl, spoke at his Memorial Service and had this to say about John’s accompanying:
“It was also at Moody (Bible Institute) that Johnnie developed his unusual skills as an accompanist. Now it’s one thing to play the piano as a soloist. It’s another thing to be an accompanist. I was already a gifted piano soloist, now he learned the wonderful ability to make a soloist sound good. And I use that grammar just as I mean it. He made the soloist sound good.”
Some of his notes on piano accompaniment are included above. You will note that he added an 11th point (in his handwriting) “Anticipate every move of soloist or director.” This, in my estimation, is probably the number one attribute of an accompanist. One who can do this.
In addition to composing original compositions, John Hallett also was an arranger. To arrange means “to adapt (a musical composition) by scoring for voices or instruments other than those for which originally written.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrange )
John arranged music in many venues. He arranged music weekly for The Children’s Bible Hour, a national radio broadcast for children originating from Grand Rapids, Michigan. This was a live weekly program for which he had to arrange all of the music.
For fourteen years he was a music editor for the Rodeheaver Puclishing Company, which included choral and instrumental arranging. In addition to arranging for The Rodeheaver, Hall-Mack Co, he was published by Broadman Press, Hope Publishing Co, Singspiration Publishing Co., Gospel Publishing House, Word-Rodeheaver Publisher& Gospel Publishers, Salvation Army Publishers, Lexicon Music Publishers.
John arranged for the John Hallett Chorale and Orchestra, a well known group in the Northeastern portion of the United States.
He also studied privately under noted conductor-arrangers Erik Leidzen and Emil Soderstrom. These men, in turn, arranged some of John’s music.
His arrangements included choral, orchestral, piano, vocal solo for professional as well as amateur singers.
Accompaniment
John was an excellent accompanist….one who performed with a soloist or ensemble.
One of his friends, Dr. Carl (Kelly) Bihl, spoke at his Memorial Service and had this to say about John’s accompanying:
“It was also at Moody (Bible Institute) that Johnnie developed his unusual skills as an accompanist. Now it’s one thing to play the piano as a soloist. It’s another thing to be an accompanist. I was already a gifted piano soloist, now he learned the wonderful ability to make a soloist sound good. And I use that grammar just as I mean it. He made the soloist sound good.”
Some of his notes on piano accompaniment are included above. You will note that he added an 11th point (in his handwriting) “Anticipate every move of soloist or director.” This, in my estimation, is probably the number one attribute of an accompanist. One who can do this.
Among the groups he accompanied was the Children’s Bible Hour Quartet. (See the undated picture above. Front row left to right: Carl Bihl, Morry Carlson, Mel Johnson. Back row: Johnnie Hallett, Malcom Cronk).
Ackley Brothers
B.D. Ackley and his brother, A.H. Ackley were musicians who accompanied Homer Rodeheaver, the song leader for the evangelist Billy Sunday. They became friends and colleagues of John Hallett. A.H. Ackley is especially known for the song “He Lives.”
“Fear Not O Child” is a poem that A.H. Ackley gave Johnnie. Ackley was about to die and this was his last set of words. John’s wife told me in an interview that “…he (Johnnie) was so thrilled with those words that he got to the airport and he forgot about his plane. And the plane went flying away without him. And because of the time change, you know the difference…Oh, but he was so thrilled.”
When she picked him up the next day, she asked, “What ever happened to you?”
Ruth recounts him saying, “Oh, I got these wonderful words from A.H. Ackley and I just forgot about the time!”
Ruth concluded, “Typical musician (Laughter). So what do you say? All is forgiven ! (laughter).”
ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers). His ASCAP certificate reads, “This certifies that on January 29, 1959, John C. Hallett was duly elected to membership.” Signed by Paul Cunningham, president.
Ackley Brothers
B.D. Ackley and his brother, A.H. Ackley were musicians who accompanied Homer Rodeheaver, the song leader for the evangelist Billy Sunday. They became friends and colleagues of John Hallett. A.H. Ackley is especially known for the song “He Lives.”
“Fear Not O Child” is a poem that A.H. Ackley gave Johnnie. Ackley was about to die and this was his last set of words. John’s wife told me in an interview that “…he (Johnnie) was so thrilled with those words that he got to the airport and he forgot about his plane. And the plane went flying away without him. And because of the time change, you know the difference…Oh, but he was so thrilled.”
When she picked him up the next day, she asked, “What ever happened to you?”
Ruth recounts him saying, “Oh, I got these wonderful words from A.H. Ackley and I just forgot about the time!”
Ruth concluded, “Typical musician (Laughter). So what do you say? All is forgiven ! (laughter).”
ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers). His ASCAP certificate reads, “This certifies that on January 29, 1959, John C. Hallett was duly elected to membership.” Signed by Paul Cunningham, president.
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