Charles Beach Hawley (Brookfield, Connecticut, February 14, 1858Noted in Hall, A Chronicle of American Music, p. 154 – Eatontown, New Jersey,"On the Death of C.B. Hawley", The Music News, vol. 8, no. 1, 1916, p. 8. December 29, 1915)Hawley, Emily C., Annals of Brookfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1929, p. 416.Noted in Hall, A Chronicle of American Music, p. 292 was an American bass, voice teacher, organist and composer of art songs and other vocal works.

Biography Charles Beach was born to John N. and Clarissa W. Keeler Hawley in Brookfield, Connecticut. Charles and his father were descendants of the pioneer founders of Newtown, which later became part of Brookfield. For many years, his father was the organist at St. Paul's Church in Brookfield.Hawley, Emily C., Annals of Brookfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1929, p. 415.

As a young man he attended the Cheshire Military School, where he "took prominent part in all the musical activities of the school".Annals of Brookfield, p. 161 In 1875, he moved to New York City, where he studied singing with George J. Webb, P.A. Rivarde, and Gustave Federlein, and composition with Dudley Buck. He soon began singing at Calvary Episcopal Church, and later became an assistant organist at St. Thomas Church. He married Hattie B. Crane in 1889.

He established himself as a versatile musician in New York. He was bass singer and choir director at the Broadway Tabernacle for 17 years. He had a private studio as a voice teacher and ran The Metropolitan College of Music for 10 years. He was a Charter Member of the Manuscript Society of New York and was an active member of the Mendelssohn Glee Club. Later organist and choir director positions were at the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church and West End Presbyterian Church.

Music As a composer, C. B. Hawley concentrated on secular and sacred art songs, publishing at least 50 songs. He also composed a Christmas cantata, The Christ Child, esteemed in its day, and several part-songs for the Mendelssohn Glee Club.

His musical language is "simple and lyrical" at times,Carmen et al, Art Song in the United States, 1759-2011, p. 209 with more dramatic passages when indicated by the text. Songs such as "Noon and Night" and "The Sweetest Flower That Blows" are especially good for young or beginning singers. Most were published by G. Schirmer between 1895 and 1915.

At least one of his works remained in the repertoire after his death: the song "Because I Love You, Dear" was heard on a WABC radio broadcast on December 10, 1934, with Andre Kostelanetz conducting.North, Andre Kostelantetz on Records and on the Air, p. 233

Musical compositions All published by G. Schirmer unless noted; texts are by the composer unless noted.

Larger works The Christ Child, Christmas cantata for SATB soloists, SATB choir and organ

Secular songs for voice and piano Ah! 'Tis a Dream, 1887Dedicated "To Mrs. Anna Bulkley Hills" (The) Arrow and the Song (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), William A. Pond, 1893Dedicated to "Mr. A. D. Woodruff". Available in IMSLP Because I Love You, Dear, 1894 Bedouin Love Song For Love of Thee Greeting (Frank Lebby Stanton), 1898 Hushaby, Sweet My Own (Eugene Field) Published in Songs of Childhood, Charles Scribner, ©1897; available in IMSLP I Love You So (Alice Dunbar), John Church publisher In April The Joy of Spring (Kate Chopin), John Church, 1913 A June Madrigal Katherine's Curls Lady Mine (The) Land of Nod My Little Love, 1890 (The) Nightingale and the Rose (R. H. Beck), 1898Also published in Anthology of American Song, G. Schirmer, ©1911; available in IMSLP Noon and Night (Herbert Trench), John Church/T. Presser, 1905 O Haste Thee, Sweet Once Again A Question (Richard Watson Gilder) Rainbows The Ring A Rose Fable A Song of Seasons (The) Song that my Heart is Singing Spring's Awakening (The) Sweetest Flower That Blows (Frederic Peterson), John Church publisher, 1898 Sweetheart Three Songs with piano accompaniment, 1894 Good-Night (S. Weir Mitchell) Unknown Unknown Two Eyes of Brown When Life Hath Sorrow Found (Charles Swain), William A. Pond, 1894Dedicated to "Mr. George Ingraham". Low voice version available in IMSLP: When Love is Gone, 1894Both high voice and low voice versions available on IMSLP Where Love Doth Build His Nest Woodland Love Song (Eunice Tietjens), John Church publisher, 1909High voice version available in IMSLP

Sacred songs for voice and piano or organ Angels Roll the Rock Away (Easter Song) Breathe Your Soft Prayer to Christ the Child (anonymous text from The New York Sun newspaper), John Church publisher, 1910 Calm on the listening ear of night (Christmas song), John Church publisher, 1905 The Christ Child Come Unto Me, 1895 High voice version available in IMSLP I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (D. Bonar), John Church publisher, 1910 Oh, for a closer walk with God (W. Cowper), John Church publisher, 1913 Redeeming Love

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