Gertrude Auld Thomas

Gertrude Auld Thomas (May 24, 1872 – December 18, 1959)[1] was an American soprano[2][3] who sang major operatic roles and also composed operas,[4][5] usually under the name Gertrude Auld.

Auld was born in Santa Cruz, California, to Mary Ellen Simpton and Ossian Gregory Auld.  She married Arthur Benjamin Thomas[6] on May 9, 1895, and they had one son, Arthur Auld Thomas, in 1901.[1]

Auld studied music for three years in Paris and London before returning to California. She studied voice with Mathilde Marchesi, a well-known proponent of bel canto singing.[7]

Auld toured throughout America,[8] giving vocal recitals[9] and lectures on topics such as "The Relation of Music to Art." She was managed by John W. Frothingham Inc.[10] She also sang major opera roles,[11] including Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme, and Marguerite in Charles Gounod's opera Faust.[12]

Auld was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota.[10] She sang in at least two recordings: Edison 290810 in 1914 and Victor Trial 1916-07-18-01 in 1916.[13] She composed at least two operas, Hazila[14] and The Overland Trail.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Gertrude Auld. "ancestry.com". Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  2. ^ Hollywood. 1922.
  3. ^ Pacific Coast Musical Review. A. Metzger. 1922.
  4. ^ Opera Composers and Their Works: R-Z. Edwin Mellen Press. 1986. ISBN 978-0-88946-400-1.
  5. ^ Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Don A. Hennessee (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
  6. ^ Library, California State (1934). News Notes of California Libraries. California State Library.
  7. ^ "San Francisco Call 23 October 1894 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  8. ^ California Southland. California Southland. 1920.
  9. ^ "MME. GERTRUDE AULD SINGS; Gives Pleasure in Songs of the Modern French Writers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  10. ^ a b Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota. G. Banta Publishing Company. 1967.
  11. ^ Bulletin of Bibliography. Boston Book Company. 1915.
  12. ^ The Musical Blue Book of America, ...: Recording in Concise Form the Activities of Leading Musicians and Those Actively and Prominently Identified with Music in Its Various Departments ... Musical Blue Book Corporation. 1917.
  13. ^ "Auld, Gertrude - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  14. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ Colby, Frank Harvey (1940). The Pacific Coast Musician. Colby and Pryibil.


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