Oliver Holden
Encyclopedia
Oliver Holden was an American
composer
and compiler
of hymns.
Born in Shirley
, Massachusetts
, he served a year as a marine, for which he received a small annual pension. He lived most of his life in Charles Town, Boston, Massachusetts, after he moved with his parents in 1786. He was known to be a devout Baptist. A carpenter and real estate dealer in his professional life, he also organized many music schools, and served as legislator
and pastor
.
When George Washington
visited Boston
in 1789, Holden wrote the lyrics and score of an ode, and trained the choir
which sang the music that greeted Washington at the Old State House. This chorus was performed again by the Stoughton Musical Society
in their concerts at the Chicago World's Exposition in 1893 His popular tune Coronation, to Edward Perronet’s hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, is said to be the earliest American hymn tune still in general use.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and compiler
Compiler
A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language...
of hymns.
Born in Shirley
Shirley
Shirley may refer to:*Shirley , either a given name or a surname-Places:United Kingdom*Shirley, Derbyshire, England*Shirley, Southampton, a district of Southampton, England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, he served a year as a marine, for which he received a small annual pension. He lived most of his life in Charles Town, Boston, Massachusetts, after he moved with his parents in 1786. He was known to be a devout Baptist. A carpenter and real estate dealer in his professional life, he also organized many music schools, and served as legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
.
Books
Holden published books on sacred music, "The American Harmony" 1793), "Union Harmony, or a Universal Collection of Sacred Music" (1793 & 1801); co-wrote "The Massachusetts Compiler," with Hans Gram and Samuel Holyoke (1795); and edited "The Worcester Collection of Sacred Harmony" (1797).When George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
visited Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1789, Holden wrote the lyrics and score of an ode, and trained the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
which sang the music that greeted Washington at the Old State House. This chorus was performed again by the Stoughton Musical Society
Stoughton Musical Society
Organized in 1786, this is currently America's oldest choral society. Over the past two centuries it has had many distinguished accomplishments. In 1908, when incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the name was changed to Old Stoughton Musical Society...
in their concerts at the Chicago World's Exposition in 1893 His popular tune Coronation, to Edward Perronet’s hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, is said to be the earliest American hymn tune still in general use.