John Franklin Fargo (1834-1911) was born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. The family moved to Caneadea, New York, then to northern Illinois by the start of the Civil War. He received significant musical training by this time and was appointed Principal of Northwestern Academy of Music in Bloomington, Illinois. He was recognized as a musical authority. At the annual meeting of the Illinois State teachers’ Association in 1864, he lectured on the “Vocal Culture” and directed the convention in an evening of music. With Benjamin Franklin Baker, he published two collections of music: “The New Haydn: A Collection. Hymn Tunes, Chants, Sentences and Anthems. Adapted for All the Wants of Public and Private Worship. And for the Use of Choirs, Singing Schools, Musical Societies and Conventions.” (1866); and, “Songs of the temple : a new collection of hymn tunes, chants, sentences, motets, and anthems original and selected, composed and arranged for the use of Christian churches of all denominations adapted to the wants of musical associations, conventions, and the home circle, together with a complete theoretical and practical system of elementary instruction for singing schools, and for the individual student.” (1868). He changed directions in his career and graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Chicago in 1881. He practiced medicine in Chicago and Minneapolis before moving to California about 1898. He was a physician in Hollywood until he died there. His compositions are mainly songs, quartets, hymns, anthems and part-songs.

All are mixed chorus unless noted; some contain divisi.