The New International Encyclopædia/Whitney, Samuel Brenton

WHITNEY, (1842&mdash;). An American organist, conductor, and composer, born in Woodstock, Vt. He was educated under Charles Wels, of New York, and J. K. Paine, of Cambridge, Mass., in which latter city he secured his first organ appointment. He came to be regarded as the greatest Bach player of the United States, and was appointed professor of organ-playing and lecturer in music at the Boston University and the New England Conservatory. In 1871 he was appointed organist and choir director of the Church of the Advent, Boston. His compositions include many anthems and other church pieces, songs, pianoforte music, sonatas, transcriptions, and arrangements for the organ.