During his lifetime, musician Timothy Olmsted (1759–1848) was a bandsman in the Continental Army, a composer of sacred music, a teacher, and a published author. His breadth of work and professional accomplishments helped give the fledgling country its own unique musical identity.
The Lexington Alarm
In 1775, America’s first Revolutionary campaign took place with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. As troops gathered and made their way to Massachusetts to fight the British, the 15-year-old Olmsted joined up with the E. Hartford Company as a fifer in the Continental Army.
Musicians’ skills were a core part of the Continental Army’s success during America’s War for Independence. Olmstead, given his exceptional fifing skills, was quickly promoted to fife major. This honor was bestowed only to the best musicians capable of overseeing the other fifers and drummers within their respective regiments. At 16 years old, he had several fellow musicians under his command.
Olmstead was present for some of the Revolutionary War’s most important moments including the Lexington Alarm and the Battle of White Plains. He also served during the War of 1812.
His extensive military experience was influential to his music. After his time in the army, he worked on several musical pieces with a military theme. One of those songs, “Columbia,” is listed in one of his manuscripts housed at the Connecticut Historical Society as “an ode sung at the general election in Hartford, 1792.”
He also published a collection of military-themed music titled, “Martial Music.” The collection features some of his original compositions, and many of the Continental Army’s beloved battle songs. In the years after the Revolutionary War, several music books with military themes were published, but Olmsted’s was the preferred choice. An article by Early Music America details why his unique perspective helped fuel the popularity of his “Martial Music”:
“[W]hat sets Olmsted’s work apart is that its author had actual experience as a bandsman in the Continental Army. Because of this, “Martial Music” is the only direct source that offers firsthand insight into what pieces belonged to the repertoire of American military bands during the War for Independence.”
Olmsted’s years spent as an army fifer and his love of military-style music remain a defining part of his overall repertoire. While he had success with patriotic numbers like “Columbia,” military compositions were only one of the genres he enjoyed composing.
A Composer’s Passionate Wish
Through composing sacred hymns and collecting notable works for publication, Olmsted wished to further unite congregations with the power of song. In the foreword to “The Musical Olio,” he stated, “That this small volume may prove to be useful in the Church, and entertaining in the Chamber, is the ardent wish of The Compiler.”
One reason for the popularity of “The Musical Olio” was its commitment to one of the country’s earliest cultural traditions— the singing of psalms.
Early Music America expanded on this point in their article, stating:
Giving a Listening Ear
After publishing “Martial Music” and “The Musical Olio,” he was given performance opportunities. In the 1820s, Olmsted performed several times, leading bands and choirs with shows that left audiences in awe.
In 1822, he performed sacred music for the Jubal Society of Hartford, a Christian organization promoting arts in the community. In 1823, he performed two more times and garnered rave reviews. One concertgoer spoke of Olmsted’s musical excellence by saying, “We think the performance was never equalled in this state.”
Music of The New American Nation
After a lifetime dedicated to the creation and collection of music, Olmsted passed away in August of 1848. However, his music continued to impact New Englanders and those residing in his native Connecticut.
In 1854, a group of Hartford, Connecticut residents wrote a letter to the Hartford Courant newspaper with high praise for one of their favorite musicians. In the letter, they declared that Olmsted was the “Mozart of America.”
The “Collected Works,” subtitled “Music of The New American Nation,” offers a comprehensive view of the composer’s songs, and highlights the magnificent output of work Olmsted released over his professional career.
A loyal fifer in George Washington’s Continental Army, a passionate composer, and a man of great faith and devotion to his country, Olmsted’s many accomplishments tell a remarkable American story. His wide scope of work and beautiful hymns reveal why a group of dedicated fans felt strongly enough to write their local newspaper and declare their New England composer, the “Mozart of America.”
