Carrie B. Wilson Adams

Carrie Belle (Wilson) Adams (1859–1940) was the first American woman to conduct a public performance of Handel's oratorio, "Messiah." An Ohio native and musical child prodigy who performed in concert for the first time at age seven, she spent much of her life in Indiana, where she was a choral conductor and organist. By the time of her death in Portland, Oregon, she had also become one of the most prolific American composers, completing 4,000 anthems, 12 cantatas, and 28 operettas during her lifetime.

Formative years Born in Oxford, Ohio 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. Among the works completed in later life was the cantata, "The Easter Triumph." Completed in 1940, it was published posthumously. "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: "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.