John Joseph Woods
John Joseph Woods (* 1849 in Tasmania , Australia , † 1934 in Lawrence , New Zealand ) was New Zealand's teacher and composer of New Zealand's national anthem " God Defend New Zealand ".
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Born and raised in Tasmania as the son of a soldier, John Woods received a good education for the middle class at the time. He was quite talented, creative, and most importantly, very musical. Of the twelve musical instruments he could play, the violin was his preferred instrument. It is not known when he came to New Zealand.
He was 27 years old and at the time The Advertiser announced a composers' competition for a New Zealand national anthem, he was teaching in the gold rush town of Lawrence in the Catholic school. The text of the hymn , which was printed in the newspaper, came from Thomas Bracken (1843–1898). The winner of the competition was to receive ten guineas as the prize for the best melody .
John Woods won the competition and found himself in the history books as the composer of the New Zealand national anthem when the hymn was sung for the first time on Christmas Day 1876.
Woods was a socially committed person, quite athletic and a member of numerous clubs and societies. He was choirmaster in the local Catholic church and when he retired in October 1931, he was the longest-serving employee of the then district government. He was valued for his integrity and his sense of duty. At the age of 83 years the award he received as the first man in New Zealand Freeman of the County of British tradition bestowed.
Woods also became known as an expert on daffodils ( daffodils ). His narcissus collection is said to have comprised over 300 specimens. It is astonishing that there is no more to be found about this man in New Zealand's history books.
John Joseph Woods died in his hometown of Lawrence at the age of 85.
Web links
- New Zealand National Anthem - John Joseph Woods - Composer (1849-1932) . Tuapeka Lawrence Community Company, archived from the original on March24, 2008; accessed on August 24, 2014(English, original website no longer available).
- Ministry for Culture & Heritage History of New Zealand's National Anthems
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Woods, John Joseph |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | New Zealand teacher and composer of the New Zealand national anthem "God Defend New Zealand" |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1849 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Tasmania , Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1934 |
| Place of death | Lawrence, New Zealand |