In recent years and months, composer Emma Ashford (who died today in 1930) has received some additional attention online from others who are interested in her background and career.
This article from the Vanderbilt University magazine, discusses several songs that have been written for the university. The section on Ashford's musical contributions (as well as her association with Vanderbilt) is just a few paragraphs down, beginning with her 1900 composition of the music for a song commemorating the 25th anniversary of the university. More recently, at the end of August this year, an extensive article on Emma Ashford's life and career was published on a blog devoted to reed organs, from where I obtained today's photograph (taken about 1901). This piece contains the most information I have seen on her in one place. Ashford did write several pieces for reed organ, one of which was featured here in 2012.
The video below is a performance of Ashford's anthem Lift up your heads, O ye gates, perhaps her most popular piece which is still sung today. You can find several versions on YouTube but I chose this one by the Washington Performing Arts Society's Children of the Gospel Choir from 2009. Some of the tempos might be peppier than those that Ashford heard in her day but performance practice does change over time and this rendition certainly makes a good case for Ashford's anthem.
As you can hear, the anthem ends with the hymn All hail the power of Jesus' name, to the tune CORONATION (1793), composed by Oliver Holden (whose birthday was just this past Sunday), incorporating the oldest American hymn tune in popular use today.
P.S. - I was pleased to include Ashford's tune EVELYN in the hymn festival I wrote and led last year, matched with a text by Phebe Hanaford on Miriam from the book of Exodus. EVELYN first appeared in the Methodist Hymnal of 1905, but not in any subsequent editions, so who knows when it was sung last?
Oliver Holden, born today in 1765 in eastern Massachusetts, was involved in many fields in addition to music. He served a year in the military, which provided him with an annual pension. He learned carpentry after his town was burnt by the British in the Revolutionary War, and helped to rebuild it. He also became a real estate broker, later opened a music store and a singing school, and served in the state legislature.
He gave land to a Baptist congregation for them to build a church, and worshipped with them for some years, but eventually left and became the pastor of his own Puritan congregation.
We know him best today as a composer; he authored books of hymn and tunes and songs beginning with American Harmony (1792) and Union Harmony (1793). One tune from the latter book, CORONATION, appears in nearly every American hymnal to the present day with All hail the power of Jesus' name. It's the oldest American tune still in regular use.
Holden wrote several hymn texts as well, and since we have had a larger number of composers lately we should look at one of those.
All who seek the throne of grace, Find that throne in every place; When we live a life of prayer, God is present everywhere.
In our sickness or our health, In our want or in our wealth, When we look to God in prayer, God is present everywhere.
When our earthly comforts fail, When the foes of life prevail, Then we look to God in prayer; God is present everywhere.
Then, my soul, in every care, Supplicating words prepare; God will answer every prayer; God is present everywhere.
Oliver Holden, 1835; alt. Tune: NEW CALABAR (7.7.7.7.) John D. Farrer, 19th cent.
In 1789, on the occasion of a visit by George Washington to Boston, Holden wrote the words and music to a celebratory ode which contained the lines
Now in full chorus burst the song And shout the deeds of Washington.
