GEORGE COLEMAN GOW
1860 - 1938
Vassar College sorrowfully records the passing on
January 12 of George Coleman Gow, for thirty-seven
years Head of the Music Department, lately Profes-
sor Emeritus, distinguished musician and teacher,
pioneer in American college music.
Called to Vassar in 1895, he had already made a
brilliant beginning in the publication of "The Struc-
ture of Music", a vital and original embodiment of
his ideals of music study. As Head of a college de-
partment in-the-making, his culture and musicianship,
his versatility and adaptability, were of the utmost
importance. He began as teacher of theory, history,
organ, and as organist and choir director. Finding
the supply of music available for the choir inade-
quate, he was stimulated to enter upon the most pro-
ductive period of his life as a composer. His carols
and anthems are distinguished by characteristic melodic
charm and loftiness of sentiment. One of his arrange-
ments, "Peace, I leave with thee", has become a Vas-
sar tradition as the closing response in the chapel
service. During these years he found time to write a
treatise entitled "Harmony", published in the Ameri-
can Encyclopedia of Music, which reaffirms his ideals,-
ideals from which he never deflected, though repeated-
ly thwarted in their realization. He believed that
music should be studied as a whole, including theory,
history and practise, and deplored the prevalent policy
of accrediting music only in part. After twenty-two
years of patient insistence, his judgment finally pre-
vailed, and.music was raised to the place of dignity
that it new holds in the curriculum.
As the department grew and new teachers were added, he
selected them with keen appreciation of their abilities
and capacities. He was a wise and kindly administrator
Modestly he sacrificed his personal preferences in order
to offer to each colleague the fullest opportunity for
individual development, evidently realizing the depart-
ment's ultimate need of a more specially trained staff.
He was always mindful of the place music should hold in
the life of the comunity. He brought concerts and re-
citals to the college, directed the Glee Club, spon-
sored the Founder's Day Song Contest. Beyond the col-
lege itself his influence extended to the Dutchess
GEORGE COLEMAN GOW (Continued)
County Musical Association, of which he was more than
once president, to the Music Teachers National Associa-
tion, of which he was one time president, and also to
the Internationale Musik-Gesellschaft.
At length the long cherished hope was realized in a
new Music Building in which he had the satisfaction of
presiding for a year before his retirement. There,
built in a wall is a bronze bas-relief in profile
which was presented to the college by devoted students
and choir mebers as a constant reminder of the warmth
and friendship which he radiated.
Not only as a memory'but also as a continuous influence,
his life work remains with us.
Marta Milinowski
James F. Baldwin
Edith S. Woodruff
IX - 427