BURLEIGH, HENRY THACKER ), negro birytone, composer and arranger, was born at Erie, Pa., Dec. 2, 1866. The grandson of a slave, he supported himself at various jobs until he succeeded in obtaining admittance to the National Conservatory of Music, New York, singing before a committee that included Joseffy. Here he studied for four years. The mother of Edward MacDowell took interest in him as also did Anton Dvorak, for whom he copied manuscripts. In 1894 he was appointed soloist at St. George's Episcopal church, New York, the only negro out of sixty applicants, retaining the position ever since. He is the composer of over fifty songs, including fine set tings of Whitman's "Ethiopia Saluting the Colours" and Rupert Brooke's sonnet "The Soldier," festival anthems, and violin pieces, and has achieved an international reputation by his arrangements of negro spirituals, notably "Deep River." The Spingarn Medal was conferred on him in 1917.