John Baptiste Calkin was an English composer, organist and music teacher.
Life
He was born in London on 16 March 1827, the son of James Calkin, composer and pianist. Reared in a musical atmosphere, he studied music under his father, and his three brothers, Joseph, James, and George, also adopted the profession. When nineteen Calkin was appointed organist, precentor, and choirmaster of St Columba's College, Dublin, in succession to Edwin George Monk. St. Columba's College was a school mainly for the boys of the upper classes and for candidates for the ministry of the Church of Ireland; music and the Irish language were prominent features in the curriculum. From 1846 to 1853, Calkin maintained a high standard of choral music at St. Columba's, and he cultivated composition. From 1853 to 1863 he was organist and choirmaster of Woburn Chapel, London; from 1863 to 1868 organist of Camden Road Chapel; and from 1870 to 1884 organist at St. Thomas's Church, Camden Town. In 1883, Calkin became professor at the Guildhall School of Music under Thomas Henry Weist-Hill, and concentrated on teaching and composing. He was on the council of Trinity College, London, a member of the Philharmonic Society, and a fellow of the College of Organists, incorporated in 1893. Calkin died at Hornsey Rise Gardens on 15 April 1905, and was buried in Highgate cemetery.
Works
As a composer, Calkin essayed many forms, but his sacred music is best known, especially his morning and evening services in B flat, G, and D. His communion service in C is marked Op. 134, a sufficient proof of his fertility. He wrote much for the organ, including numerous transcriptions, and he scored many string arrangements, as well as original sonatas, duos, &c. His hymn tunes, though not to be found in 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,' are in other collections. Calkin's setting of "Fling out the Banner" has a great vogue in America and the British colonies, and was included in the Canadian Book of Common Praise, edited by Sir George Martin. His "Agape" was composed specially for the 'Church Hymnary of Scotland, to the words "Jesu, most loving God", and was inserted in the Church Hymnal of Ireland. His best known work is the setting from 1872 of a popular Christmas songI Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
