Patty Stair

Patty Stair (November 12, 1869 – April 26, 1926 ) was an American organist and composer.

Biography Patty Stair was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the niece of tenor Edwin Stair. She studied with music teachers including Franklin Bassett and at Hathaway Brown school for girls. She taught organ at the Cleveland Conservatory of Music from about 1889 to 1921 and served as organist for several churches in the Cleveland area.

She was the first woman member and served as dean of the Ohio Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and directed the chorus of the Forthnightly Musical Club. She also served as president of the Women's Music Teachers association of Cleveland.

Stair never married, and died of pneumonia in Cleveland in 1926. Later that year as part of Cleveland Music Week celebrations, along with other recently deceased Cleveland musicians Johann Beck and Fanny Snow Knowlton, she was honored with a prominent exhibit at the Cleveland Public Library.

Works Stair composed for orchestra, songs and sacred anthems, and produced two light operas. Selected works include:

Intermezzo for orchestra Six songs ("If I could take your tears, love," "Madrigal," "Love song," "When daisies bloom," Daphne’s cheeks," "Slumber song") All my Heart this Night rejoices, Christmas anthem Art thou weary, Sacred Duet for Soprano and Tenor, words by J.M. Neale Berceuse for violin and P.F., 1908 Calm on the listening Ear of Night, Christmas Anthem, words by E.H. Sears Christ beneath Thy Cross, Anthem, 1915 Christmas Cradle Song, For mixed voices and Organ, with Violin ad libitum, words by M. Luther Come, ye Faithful, Hymn-Anthem for Easter, 1908 Evening Hymn, Softly now the Light of Day, Anthem for mixed voices, 1907 A Folk-Tale, for violin and P.F., 1908 Hark, what mean those holy Voices ... Anthem for mixed Quartet, 1902 I have longed for Thy Salvation, anthem, 1913 It is a good Thing to give Thanks ... anthem, 1913 Little Dutch Lullaby, chorus for women's voices, 1905 Now the Day is Over, hymn-anthem for women's or children's a capella voices