William Benjamin Olds (1874–1948) was an American musician, professor, composer, and scholar. His book ''Bird songs for children'' was published in 1914. ''

The Musical Quarterly ''The Musical Quarterly'' is the oldest academic journal on music in America. Originally established in 1915 by Oscar Sonneck, the journal was edited by Sonneck until his death in 1928. Sonneck was succeeded by a number of editors, including Car ...

'' published an article he wrote about

bird song Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs (relatively complex vocalizations) are distinguished by func ...

s in 1922. Arrangements he made of bird songs were performed. He worked at

Millikin College Millikin University is a private university in Decatur, Illinois. It was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur businessman James Millikin and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Media Decaturian The ''Decaturian'', also known as ...

Decatur, Illinois Decatur ( ) is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois, with a population of 70,522 as of the 2020 Census. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Ce ...

. He wrote a college song for the school in 1913. In 1923 he took a position at the

University of Redlands The University of Redlands is a private university headquartered in Redlands, California. The university's main, residential campus is situated on 160 acres (65 ha) near downtown Redlands. An additional eight regional locations throughout Califo ...

in California. He studied bird songs. In Redlands he lived at the Herman A. Westbrook Residence at 805 North University Avenue. The Choir of the West of Pacific Lutheran University utilized his arrangement for many years as an opener for concerts. The Wartburg Choir's performance of his arrangement ''Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott'' features in the documentary ''The Wartburg Choir in Germany: Celebrating 500 Years of Reformation''.

Education

William Benjamin Olds is listed as a student of

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. It is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational liberal arts college in the United S ...

in 1890 and at

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Founded in 1846, when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and has ...

the same year.

Personal life

He was married to Alice Dole Hannahs Olds, "Alie".

Work

*"The Bread of Life" *"I Cannot Always Trace the Way: Sacred Songs" 1912 *''Twenty-five bird songs for children'' (1914),

G. Schirmer G. Schirmer, Inc. is an American classical music publishing company based in New York City, founded in 1861. The oldest active music publisher in the United States, Schirmer publishes sheet music for sale and rental, and represents some well-know ...

, New York *''A Second Book of Bird Songs for Children'' (20 more songs) *A mighty fortress is our God : chorale for double chorus a cappella, S.A.T.B. by W B Olds; Frederick Henry Hedge; Martin Luther, Chicago, Hall & McCreary, (1938), Hall & McCreary choral octavos *"Hiking with a pitch pipe" (1923 article) Bird-lore *"Shut your eyes tight, little boy" (1940)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Olds, W. B. 1874 births American composers 1948 deaths Oberlin College alumni Millikin University faculty University of Redlands faculty Beloit College alumni 20th-century composers