1863 - 1946 Person Name: J. Christopher Marks Topics: Afflictions Comfort under; Afflictions Promises for; Angels; Assurance Declared; Assurance Enjoyed; Cares; Christians Christ the Life of; Christians Conquerors; Christians Graces of; Covenant Promises; Deliverance From Sickness; Etermal Life; Faith Confession of; God Our Guardian; God Hearer of Prayer; God Love and Mercy; God Our Refuge; Gospel Privileges of; Heaven; Praise for temporal blessings; Prayer Importunity in ; Prayer Promise to; Preservation; Protection Only from God; Protection Unceasing; The Righteous Honor and Safety of; Royalty of Christ Providential; Safety Assured; Salvation Promised; Trust in God Expression of Composer of "MARTHINA" in The Psalter Born: 1863, Cork, Ireland.
Died: October 13, 1946, New York City.
Marks’ father (who had the same name) was organist and choir master at the Cork Cathedral for 43 years. James studied music under his father; his uncle, T. Osborne Marks, organist of Armagh Cathedral; and with Professor R. P. Stewart of Trinity College, Dublin. He received vocal training from Sims Reeves, whose special accompanist he was during Reeves’ final farewell tour in Ireland. Marks was organist and choir master at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cork (1881-1902). In 1902, he emigrated to America and became the organist at St. Andrew’s Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1904, he became organist and choir director at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York, where he served until 1929.
Marks received a Doctor of Music degree from New York University in 1908, served as president of the National Association of Organists in 1912 and 1913, and was an Associate of the American Guild of Organists.
He wrote the cantata Victory Divine, the anthem The Day Is Past and Over (1888), and many other pieces.
Sources:
Benjamin, pp. 100-01
New York Times, October 15, 1946
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/r/k/marks_jc.htm
James Christopher Marks