The Leupold Foundation announces the gift to The Leupold Archives of the personal and professional libraries of Ernest White (1901–80), musician, organist, choir director, organbuilder, photographer, and professor. Ernest White, born in London, Ontario, studied organ with Ernest MacMillan, Healey Willan, and Lynnwood Farnam. White was organist-choirmaster 1927–35 at St. James Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, and 1935–37 at Trinity Church, Lenox, Massachusetts. From 1937–58 White was associated with the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City, first as organist, and later as music director, where it was his custom to give two series of organ recitals each year.
For a time White also was tonal director for M. P. Möller, designing and supervising organ installations including those in New York City at St. George’s Episcopal Church, the Interchurch Center Chapel, and a studio organ at St. Mary the Virgin. White also taught at several colleges and universities.
Ernest White gave over 1,000 organ recitals featuring both old and modern repertoire. He was also noted for his pioneering American editions of early European organ music and for his recordings, among which was the first issued recording of Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur.
The gift to The Leupold Archives includes seventy-five cartons containing: (1) printed and manuscript music for solo organ, organ and orchestra, and choir; (2) books on general music, pipe organ building, music theory, sacred music, music history, and the collections of the organ works of J.S. Bach; (3) archival materials including letters, papers, contracts, correspondence with composers, scrapbooks, and photographs; and (4) all the copyrights owned by Ernest White, Ernest White Editions, and St. Mary’s Press. For more information on The Leupold Foundation and The Leupold Archive, visit www.wayneleupold.com.
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