Grace Walls Linn

Grace Walls Linn Sandy
Birth nameGrace Walls Linn
BornAugust 3, 1874
Greencastle, Indiana, United States
OriginUnited States
DiedAugust 31, 1940
GenresRagtime
Occupation(s)Composer, Organist
Instrument(s)Piano, Organ
LabelsCarlin Music Company
Spouse(s)Edward Martin Linn (m. 1899), James Albert Sandy

Grace Walls Linn Sandy (3 August 1874 – 31 August 1940) was a ragtime composer and organist. The National Spiritualist Association of Churches made one of her compositions its official song. She published under the name Grace Walls Linn.[1][2][3][4][5]

Life and career

Linn was born in Greencastle, Indiana, to Sarah Frances Alspaugh and Charles Edward Walls. She was a direct descendant of the family of Jane Seymour, wife of Henry VIII of England. She married Edward Martin Linn in 1899. After he died in 1918, she married James Albert Sandy. Linn had one daughter, Gretchen. Little is known about her education.[6][7][5]

Linn taught piano and was the organist at Sutherland Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. She belonged to the Pen Woman's Club and was a Federation President of the International Travel Study Club. In 1928, the National Spiritualist Association of Churches made Linn's "Sunflower Song" the organization’s official song. Linn spent the last year of her life in Florida with her daughter.[2][5]

The Carlin Music Company published Linn's music. She composed at least 14 piano pieces and five songs.[8]

Selected works

Piano

  • Automobile Spin[9]
  • Dancing Shadows Gavotte[3]
  • Enchantment Waltz[3]
  • Gretchen’s Dance[3]
  • La Grace[3]
  • Memories of the Dance[3]
  • Sunbeam Gavotte[3]
  • Tippecanoe Two Step[3]

Vocals

  • “Shut Eye Land Lullaby” (music and text by Linn)[3]
  • “Sunflower Song” (music and text by Linn)[10]
  • “You Has Still Got Me” (text traditional)[11]

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers. 2: Sai - Zyb, Appendices (2. ed., revised and enl ed.). New York: Books & Music. p. 615. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
  2. ^ a b Leonard, Todd Jay (2005). Talking to the Other Side: A History of Modern Spiritualism and Mediumship:A Study of the Religion, Science, Philosophy and Mediums that Encompass this American-Made Religion. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-36353-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Category:Sandy, Grace Linn - IMSLP". imslp.org. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  4. ^ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: A checklist of works for the solo voice. A reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: Hall. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.
  5. ^ a b c Sandy, Mrs. G. L. (3 September 1940). "Indianapolis Star". p. 12.
  6. ^ Heinrich, Adel (1991). Organ and harpsichord music by women composers: an annotated catalog. Music reference collection (1. publ ed.). New York: Greenwood Pr. p. 371. ISBN 978-0-313-26802-1.
  7. ^ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen London: the Scarecrow press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
  8. ^ "Grace Linn Sandy Letter". ccdl.claremont.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  9. ^ Edwards, Bill. "RagPiano.com - Pre-Ragtime/Cakewalks and Marches". RagPiano.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  10. ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1925.
  11. ^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1927). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Fourth Series. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.