Oliver Holden facts for kids
Oliver Holden (born September 18, 1765 – died September 4, 1844) was an American composer. He also collected and published many hymns, which are religious songs.
Oliver Holden's Life Story
Oliver Holden was born in Shirley, Massachusetts. During the American Revolutionary War, he served as a marine. This was from 1782 to 1783, on a ship called the USS Deane. His ship returned to Boston with at least one British prize ship. For his service, he received a yearly payment called a pension.
Oliver was a carpenter by trade. In 1786, he moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts. He helped rebuild the town after the war. Besides being a carpenter, he also bought and sold land. He was known for organizing many music schools. He even served as a lawmaker and a pastor, which is a church leader.
He was a Baptist. In 1791, he joined the First Baptist Church in Boston. He became the leader of their choir, which is a group of singers. In 1801, he helped start the First Baptist Church in Charlestown. Later, in 1809, he and some others left that church. They felt the church was not strict enough. So, they started a Second Baptist Church in Charlestown.
In 1795, he became a Freemason in King Solomon's Lodge. He was an active member for ten years. He represented his town in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This was in 1818, 1825, 1826, and from 1828 to 1833. He built a large house around 1800. This house later became the Oliver Holden School, a kindergarten in Boston.
Oliver Holden is buried at the Phipps Street Burying Ground in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Oliver Holden's Music Books
While working as a carpenter, Holden published The American Harmony in 1793. This book contained sacred music, mostly his own songs. The music was arranged for three and four singing parts. Soon after, he released Union Harmony, or a Universal Collection of Sacred Music (1793 & 1801). He also wrote The Massachusetts Compiler in 1795. He wrote this last book with Hans Gram and Samuel Holyoke.
He also edited the sixth edition of The Worcester Collection of Sacred Harmony in 1797. This edition was changed and corrected. It also had new psalm-tunes in an appendix. This book was printed using movable types. These types were brought from England in 1786 by Isaiah Thomas of Worcester. It is the oldest music book printed this way.
When George Washington visited Boston in 1789, Holden wrote a special song for him. He wrote both the words and the music. He also trained the choir that sang this song to greet Washington. This song was performed again in 1893. His popular tune "Coronation" is still used today. It is sung with Edward Perronet's hymn "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name". It is thought to be the oldest American hymn tune still widely used. His hymn "Confidence" is also well-known.
