Isaac Baker Woodbury (23 October 1819, Beverly, Massachusetts – 1858)[1] was a 19th-century composer and publisher of church music.
Woodbury studied with Lowell Mason in Boston and with teachers in Paris and London. Upon his return to Boston he taught music, played organ, and directed choral groups. His first musical publications were tune books compiled in collaboration with his cousin Benjamin F. Baker, with whom he also formed the National Musical Convention, a training school for teachers. He also edited World of Music and the American Monthly Musical Review. He is most famous for publishing The Dulcimer; or, The New York Collection of Sacred Music, one of the best-known collection of Christian hymns of the era.[2] His best-known hymn tunes include "Siloam" and "Esmonton".[3]
Woodbury produced nearly 700 compositions and publications during his career. His sacred music was published principally in 15 tune books, and includes Anglican chants, hymn tunes and ensemble music for soloists or chorus. He published 14 secular tune books containing glees, choruses and school music; his four secular cantatas, three oratorios and one musical drama also appeared in these tune books.
Woodbury's health began to fail in the 1850s and he spent his final years struggling against tuberculosis; he visited Europe and the Mediterranean in 1851–2 and 1857–8 and Florida in 1856–7, and died on a second trip to Florida in 1858.