John Robson Sweney

John Robson Sweney (December 31, 1837 – April 10, 1899) was an American composer from Pennsylvania. He was a professor of music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy for twenty-five years and collaborated with William J. Kirkpatrick to produce and publish over 1,000 gospel hymn songs and over sixty hymnal books. His most popular and widely known hymn is "Beulah Land". Early life and education He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and showed indications of musical ability at an early age. As a child he began to teach music in the public school and to lead and compose music in his Sunday school. At the age of nineteen he studied music under Professor Theodore Bauer, a celebrated German teacher, and Professor Barilli. He took lessons on the violin and piano. He worked as a leader of a choir, at children's concerts and entertainments, and as the conductor of a glee club. He received a BA degree in Music in 1876 and a Doctor of Music degree in 1886 from the Pennsylvania Military Academy. Career At the age of twenty-two he worked as a teacher in Dover, Delaware. When the Civil War broke out, he took charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment, and continued until bands were disbanded by the government. After returning from the war he was appointed Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, then located at West Chester. Previous to this time he had written several pieces for the piano, which were published. When the Pennsylvania Military Academy was relocated to its present location in Chester, Pennsylvania, he remained in West Chester and continued teaching and leading "Sweney's Cornet Band" which became locally successful. About 1869 he was recalled to the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and moved to Chester, where he was professor of music in that institution for twenty-five years. In 1876 the academy conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Music, and in 1886 the degree of Doctor of Music.