Carrie Belle (Wilson) Adams (1859–1940) was the first American woman to conduct a public performance of Handel's

oratorio An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...

, "

Messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of '' mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach ...

.""Death Claims Song Writer" and "Carrie Adams' Works Many". Portland, Oregon: ''The Oregonian'', December 16, 1940, p. 1 and 4. An

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

native and musical

child prodigy A child prodigy is, technically, a child under the age of 10 who produces meaningful work in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to describe young people who are extraordinarily talented in some f ...

who performed in concert for the first time at age seven,Hall, Jacob Henry.
Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers
'. New York, New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1914, pp. 368–371. she spent much of her life in

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, where she was a

choral conductor Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or Choir, choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary d ...

and

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

. By the time of her death in

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

, she had also become one of the most prolific American composers, completing 4,000

anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...

s, 12

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian language, Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal music, vocal Musical composition, composition with an musical instrument, instrumental accompaniment, ty ...

s, and 28

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the oper ...

s during her lifetime."Carrie Adams became prolific American composer"
Terre Haute, Indiana: ''

Tribune-Star The ''Tribune-Star'' is a seven-day morning daily newspaper based in Terre Haute, Indiana, covering the Wabash Valley area of Indiana and Illinois. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings. Counties within the newspaper's coverage areas in ...

'', March 5, 2017.Clark, Keith C.
Carrie B. Adams
" in ''Dictionary of North American Hymnology''. The Hymn Society of the United States and Canada: Retrieved online June 15, 2018.

Formative years

Born in

Oxford, Ohio Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion ...

on July 28, 1858 (alternate birth date June 29, 1859), Carrie Belle Wilson was the oldest child of Allie (Myers) Wilson and David Wilson, a songwriter and music educator. Her mother was also a musician. As the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

was waged across a major portion of the United States during the early 1860s, Carrie Wilson was studying music with her father. By the time the war was over, she had made her debut. A child prodigy, she sang for a convention of musicians in

Millville, Ohio Millville is a village in Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 634 at the 2020 census. Millville sits between Oxford, Ohio and Cincinnati, Ohio along U.S. Route 27. Millville is part of Greater Cincinnati, just west of Hamilto ...

, when she was just seven years old. According to biographer Jacob Henry Hull, she was also "a brilliant

pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...

and accompanist from her girlhood days." In 1872, she and her parents and five siblings moved to

Paris, Illinois Paris is a city in Edgar County, Illinois, south of Chicago and west of Indianapolis. The population was 8,291 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat and largest city in Edgar County, Illinois, Edgar County. History Paris was established i ...

, where her father founded the Paris Musical Institute. Three years later, at the age of 16, she published an anthem – the first of many compositions she would pen over the years. By 1876, she was serving as the organist and choir director for the Paris Presbyterian Church.

Family life and professional music career

On July 21, 1880, Carrie Belle Wilson married amateur playwright Allyn G. Adams. She then relocated with her husband to

Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute ( ) is a city in Vigo County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 58,389 and Terre Haute metropolitan area, its metropolitan area had a populati ...

in 1882. Their son, Stanley, was born on October 18, 1887. From 1887 to 1896, she was employed as a professor of music at the Indiana State Normal School (now

Indiana State University Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1865 and offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 75 graduate and professional programs. Indiana State is classified ...

), and also chaired the music department there. In addition, she served as conductor of The Choral, Rose Polytechnic Glee and Treble Clef clubs and The Terre Haute Oratorio Society. In 1893, she published her musical play, "The National Flower." By the time of her retirement from the university three years later, she had completed work on 12

s, 4,000

anthems An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short s ...

, and 28

operettas Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the ope ...

. Following her husband's retirement, she relocated with him in 1920 to

to be closer to her son, Stanley. After 16 years together in Portland, her husband widowed her in 1936. In addition to playing the

pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurised air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a Musical keyboard, keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single tone and pitch, the pipes are provide ...

for the

First Congregational Church (Portland, Oregon) The First Congregational Church is a church located in downtown Portland, Oregon, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Construction took place over a period of six years, from 1889 to 1895. The building was designed by Swiss archi ...

, she became an associate editor with ''The Choir Herald'', and continued to compose music into her early 80s. According to a 1936 article in ''Time'' magazine, "In Portland, Ore. last week Mrs. Adams sent off to her publishers four new anthems, baked a jelly cake, ndcelebrated her 77th birthday." Among the works completed in later life was the cantata, "The Easter Triumph." Completed in 1940, it was published posthumously.

Illness, death and interment

Suffering from a heart condition, Carrie Belle (Wilson) Adams was admitted to a private hospital in Portland, Oregon, for treatment sometime in late November or early December 1940. She remained there for several weeks until her death on December 15, 1940. She was 81 at the time of her passing. According to a statement made to ''

The Oregonian ''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the West Coast of the United States, U.S. West Coast, founded as a weekly by Tho ...

'' by a representative of her longtime publisher, Lorenz Publishing Co., "Adams' compositions ere being performedeach Sunday by an average of 300,000 choir singers" at the time of her death. Dr. Raymond B. Walker, the pastor of Portland's First Congregational Church officiated at her funeral services, which were held at J. P. Finley & Son on December 18, 1940. She was survived by her brother, Charles E. Wilson, and sister, Merle Wilson, who were both residing in Portland, as well as a daughter-in-law, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Her son, Stanley, had preceded her in death six months earlier.

Titles of works created

1890s: * "The National Flower" (cantata in three acts). Cincinnati, Ohio: The John Church Co., 1893. * "We Are Soldiers," in The Gospel Hymnal for Sunday school and church work. Cincinnati, Ohio: Jennings & Pye, 1899. 1900s: * "Easter Praise" (cantata). New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1908. * "Jesus, Thou Source of Calm Repose." Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1906. * "How Beautiful Jesus' Love!" in ''International Praise: for the Sunday school and church''. Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1902. * "Redeemer and King" (cantata). New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1909. *
Remember now Thy Creator
" Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1904. * "Send Out Thy Light," in ''United Praise: for use in Sunday Schools, Young People's Societies and other Church Services''. New York, New York: Lorenz & Co., 1908. * "Soldiers on life's highway," in ''Praises''. Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1905. * "Sunday School Cadets," in ''International Praise: for the Sunday school and church''. Chicago, Illinois: E. O. Excell, 1902. (Note: This hymn was also published in subsequent years in different hymnals under the title, "Honor-Bright Cadets.") * "The Heavens declare." Cincinnati, Ohio: Fillmore Music House, 1906. * "There's a song in the air." Cincinnati, Ohio: Fillmore Bros. Co., September 28, 1906. * "The Sunshine of God," in ''Hymns that Help: in Sunday schools, young people's societies and other church services''. Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1903. 1910s: * "A Song of Cheer," in ''The King's Message: a collection of sunday school songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. *
A Tale of a Hat
" Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1913. * "Blessings Every Day," in ''Praise Ye, a Collection of Sacred Songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1913. * "Brighter Than the Sunshine," in ''The King's Message: a collection of sunday school songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. * "The Harbor of Home: a Mother's Day exercise." Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1915. * "Hail, King of Kings," in ''The Junior Choir No. 2''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. * "Just as I am." Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1914. * "Marching Along," in ''The King's Message: a collection of sunday school songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. * "Our loving Lord was crucified," in ''Praise Ye, a Collection of Sacred Songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1913. * "Praise and prayer: a collection of new anthems." Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1914. * "Rallying Song," in ''The King's Message: a collection of sunday school songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. * ''Songs new and old for men's voices'', ''Songs new and old for mixed voices'', and ''Songs new and old for women's voices'' (1914). Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1914. * "Steadily marching onward," in ''The King's Message: a collection of sunday school songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. * "The Savior's Love," in ''The King's Message: a collection of sunday school songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1910. * "'Tis Jesus, the Friend of the world," in ''Praise Ye, a Collection of Sacred Songs''. New York, New York: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1913. * "Under the Stars and Stripes" (operetta, 1917). *
Young men's chorus, a collection of sacred songs, quartets and anthems for men's voices
" Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1912. 1920s: * "Cheerful givers," in ''Children's Praise and Worship''. Anderson, Indiana: Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co., 1928. * "Children O'er the Seas," in ''Glad Songs''. Elgin, Illinois: Brethren Publishing House, 1922. * "Christmas (The) Adoration: a Christmas cantata for Church choirs and choral societies." Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing, Co., September 6, 1920. * "Jesus, the Shepherd True," in Glad Songs. Elgin, Illinois: Brethren Publishing House, 1922. *
Mother and home : a Mother's Day exercise
" Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Co., 1920. * "O Loving Savior" (lyrics set to a German tune), in ''Glad Songs No. 6''. Elgin, Illinois: Brethren Publishing House, 1922. *
Old Cabin Home Minstrels
" Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1921. * "The Golden Rule," in ''Glad Songs''. Elgin, Illinois: Brethren Publishing House, 1922. * "The Resurrection Story" (cantata, 1923). 1930s:Adams, Carrie B. and Lorenz Publishing, in
Catalog of Copyright Entries Part 3: Musical Compositions, New Series, Volume 32, for the Year 1937, Nos. 1-12
'." Washington, D.C.: U.S. Library of Congress and United States Government Printing Office, 1938. * "Jesus, the Savior, was crucified," in ''Music for the Junior Choir''. Chicago, Illinois: Rodeheaver Co., 1930. * "Keep the Light Burning for Him," in ''Music for the Junior Choir''. Chicago, Illinois: Rodeheaver Co., 1930. * "Spring cheer: Children's day service." Dayton, Ohio: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1937. Posthumous publication: * "Let me walk and talk with thee," in ''Special Songs for Special Singers Number 2''. Nashville, Tennessee: John T. Benson Publishing Co., 1958. * "Little baby in the manger," in ''Songs for Primary Children''. Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Co., 1958. * "Marching, marching all together, always," in ''Happy Songs for Boys and Girls''. Washington, D.C.: Review & Herald, 1952. * "Our tender loving Father, we come," in ''Songs for Primary Children''. Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Co., 1958. * "Touch not, taste not," in ''Happy Songs for Boys and Girls''. Washington, D.C.: Review & Herald, 1952. * "We march along with happy song," in ''Songs for Primary Children''. Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Co., 1958.

References

External links

*

" Washington, D.C.: U.S. Library of Congress, retrieved online June 15, 2018. *
Dictionary of North American Hymnology
'. The Hymn Society of the United States and Canada: Retrieved online June 15, 2018. * McCormick, Mike.
Carrie B. Adams
' (one-page biography from the ''Tribune-Star'', Terre Haute, Indiana). Terre Haute, Indiana: Vigo County Historical Society, retrieved online June 15, 2018. {{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Carrie Belle American women conductors (music) 20th-century American conductors (music) 19th-century American conductors (music) 20th-century American composers 19th-century American composers 20th-century hymnwriters 20th-century American songwriters 19th-century hymnwriters Sacred music composers Musicians from Ohio 1858 births 1940 deaths Musicians from Portland, Oregon 20th-century American women composers 19th-century American women composers