Emma Louise Ashford

Emma Louise Ashford (born Hindle, March 27, 1850 – September 22, 1930) was an American organist, composer, and music editor. She wrote over 600 compositions. From 1894 to 1930 she was an editor at Lorenz Publishing Company, and at its periodicals The Choir Leader and The Organist.

Early life Emma Louise Ashford (born Emma Louise Hindle) was born in Newark, Delaware, the only child of English parents. She received her first musical training at an early age from her father, James Hindle, who was a singing teacher. At eight years old she was admitted to her local Episcopal Church choir as an alto. She came to be known as "the best sight reader in the choir." From the choir director she also received instruction on piano and organ. In 1864, at age fourteen, her family moved to Ballard Vale, Massachusetts. Here she met and became acquainted with composer James Ramsey Murray (famous for his music to the Christmas carol Away in a Manger).

The following year her family moved to Connecticut, where she took the organist position at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Seymour, Connecticut. At that time she also studied piano with a Mrs. Street, and pipe organ with Dr. Anderson of St. Paul's Church, New Haven, CT. and eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Ashford was chosen out of twenty-eight applicants to fill the solo alto position at St. John's Episcopal Church, whose director was the renowned Dudley Buck. The couple lived at 2105 Dixie Place which has since been torn down and replaced with a parking garage.

Together the Ashfords led the choirs of some of the largest churches in Nashville. She also put more energy into composing her own music. She had, from the time of her youth, studied harmony and counterpoint with a number of teachers, most notably Henri Weber and Dr. R. H. Peters, Mus.D., who noted her "deep and clear insight into things musical" and was impressed with her "intense musical temperament."

For many years Emma and John could be found directing the music at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Ohabai Sholom Jewish Temple and for several years Emma filled the place of organist at various churches, including the First Baptist, Tulip Street (Methodist), and Christ Church (Episcopal).

All the while, Emma was also pursuing her own studies in harmony, counterpoint, canon and fugue with Christian Heinrich Weber (b.1812–d?), co-leader of the Nashville Academy of Music, and Dr R.H. Peters, Director of Music at Converse College. Spartanburg. Peters would later remark: Her work was excellent in every respect, and showed unmistakably that behind it all there existed brains as well as intense musical temperament and appreciation. For Mrs. Ashford’s ability in matters musical I entertain a respect that borders on the profound. Many of her anthems were published in The Choir Leader, a long-running monthly magazine for small-to-medium size church choirs. Over the years many of Ashford's organ works appeared in The Organist, as well as in the numerous collections Ashford prepared for Lorenz Publishing Company. Some of these collections contained music exclusively by Ashford; others featured music from a wide range of classic and contemporary organ composers, in addition to pieces written by Ashford specifically for each collection.

Published composer In 1890 some of Ashford's vocal music - songs, quartets and trios - was published by the John Church Company. In 1893, renowned music publisher, compiler and editor E. O. Excell began publishing Ashford's anthems, including 17 in Excell's Anthems, Volume IV (1893) and 4 more in Excell's Anthems, Volume V (1896). These publications also included anthems from more than 20 other American composers. She made three trips abroad, in 1894, 1897, and in 1904, studying in England with the leading masters of the time. While abroad in 1894 she spent a large part of her time studying ecclesiastical music. In 1896 Ashford began publishing with Lorenz Publishing Company, and in 1902 she signed an exclusive contract to publish all her music with Lorenz. 1899 Ashford's Anthems, "a collection of new anthems and new arrangements".

Cantatas (written for church choirs, choral societies, and musical societies)

Hymn tunes 1892 Keep away, keep away, let my spirit have rest O, erring one, say not too late (No, Not Too Late) There is another, better world (A Better World) 1894 Ashford's Hymn Voluntaries 1901 Volume 1 1910 Volume 2 Ashford's Organ Instructor 1901 Book 1 1904 Book 2 1906 Book 3 1908 Book 4 Ashford's Organ Voluntaries 1898 Volume 1 1899 Volume 2 The Diapason (1906) Favorite Organ Voluntaries (1917) 3 volumes Forty-Three Organ Offertories for Pipe or Reed Organs (1907) Funeral Voluntaries (1910) Lorenz's Practical Voluntaries 1918 Book 1 1920 Book2 1922 Book 3 1924 Book 4 Lorenz's Three-staff Organ Folio (1927) The Melodia 1920 No.1 1921 No. 2 Organ Praise Series 1909 No. 1 1910? No. 2 1911 No. 3 The Organ Treasury 1900 No. 1 1901 No. 2 1902 No. 3 1903 No. 4 and No. 5 The Organist's Helper 1915 No. 1 1916 No. 2 and No. 3 1917 No. 4 The Pedal Organ 1908 No. 1 1909? No. 2 1910 No. 3 Vox Celeste 1905 No. 1 1906? No. 2 1907 No. 3 1908 No. 4

Vocal music Ashford composed more than 100 songs for 1, 2 or 3 voices and piano (or organ), including several song cycles and song collections. 1903 Labor and love (2 solos), voice and piano [which includes Ashford's most popular song "My Task"] Moods (7 songs), high voice and piano ["a series of songs"] 1905 Springtime, song cycle (5 songs), unison children's chorus and piano (1905) 1911 Love's Dial, song cycle (5 songs), high voice and piano 1812 Smiles (8 songs), voice and piano ["A Collection of Humorous Encore Songs, etc"] 1913 Two Easter Solos, voice and piano In my lady's garden, song cycle (5 songs), low voice and piano 1914 Love Lyrics, song cycle (3 songs), low voice and piano (1914)