Introduction

Biography

Isaac was the hus­band of Ma­ry Ab­by Put­nam.

He stu­died with Low­ell Ma­son in Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts, and had fur­ther stu­dies in Pa­ris and Lon­don in the late 1830’s.

After re­turn­ing to Bos­ton, he taught mu­sic, played the or­gan, and con­duct­ed cho­ral groups.

He ed­it­ed the World of Mu­sic and the Am­eri­can Month­ly Mu­sic­al Re­view. In 1849, he moved to New York.

After con­tract­ing tu­ber­cu­lo­sis, he tra­veled in the Me­di­ter­ra­ne­an and Flo­ri­da.

Works

Woodbury pro­duced ora­to­ri­os, can­ta­tas, chor­us­es, glees, pi­ano piec­es, teach­ing piec­es, and:

• The Chor­al, with Ben­ja­min Bak­er (Bo­ston, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Otis, Broad­ers & Com­pa­ny, 1845)
• Elements of Mu­sic­al Com­po­si­tion, 1844 (lat­er re­is­sued as Self-In­struct­or in Mu­sic­al Com­po­si­tion)
• Dulcimer; or, New York Col­lect­ion of Sacr­ed Music, 1850 & lat­er
• Liber Mu­sic­us, 1851
• Cythara, 1854
• The Cas­ket (Charles­ton, South Ca­ro­li­na: 1855)
• New Lute of Zi­on, 1856