John Knowles Paine

John Knowles Paine ( born January 9, 1839 in Portland, Maine, † April 25, 1906 in Cambridge, Massachusetts) was an American organist and composer.

Life and work

Paine went in 1858 to Berlin, where he studied with Gustav Wilhelm Teschner vocals and Carl August Haupt organ, counterpoint and composition. In 1861 he returned to the U.S. and became organist of the West Church of Boston. In 1862 he received the first chair of the United States of Music at Harvard University, where he taught until 1905.

Paine wrote an opera ( Azara ), several symphonies, stage music, anthems, cantatas, chamber music, piano and organ pieces, and vocal music.