Archives Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1973.23.16 |
Object Name |
Music, Sheet |
Title |
Sheet Music, "Salvator" (The Saviour) by Roberta Geddes-Harvey, 1907 |
Date |
1907 |
Year Range from |
1907 |
Year Range to |
1907 |
Description |
Sheet Music for "Salvator" (The Saviour) / A Sacred Oratorio" composed by Roberta Geddes-Harvey, published by C.W. Thompson & Company of Boston, USA, copyrighted 1907. Music by Roberta Geddes-Harvey with lyrics selected from the Bible and various sacred poems. Sheet music is bound within a grey paper cover with black type. Interior text is printed in black. "Mrs. R. Shortreed Guelph" written in ink on front cover. Inserts that were taped to the title page are two clippings, one a photo of Mrs. Roberta Geddes-Harvey Mus.Bac., the other a newspaper clipping dated 1926 marking her retirement as organist at St. George's Church. |
Notes |
Biography: Anne Catherine "Roberta" Geddes was born on 25 December 1849 in Hamilton to James Coffin Geddes (1814-1891) and Marianne Lee Wyatt (1830-1853). She earned a music degree at Trinty College in Toronto in 1899 where she studied music theory and was mentored by three respected music educators: Arthur E. Fisher, Edward Fisher, and Humfrey Anger. Roberta held several organist roles in Hamilton before moving to Guelph in 1876 to become the organist and choirmaster at St. George's Anglican Church. She held this role for fifty years until she retired in 1926. Roberta married Gardiner George Harvey (1855-1954) on 11 September 1884 in Toronto. Together they had six children: James Gardiner Harvey (1885-1947), George Harvey (1186-1974), John Richardson Harvey (1890-1895), Marianna Isabella Roberta (Harvey) Drew (1893-1976) and Mary Harvey (b. 1894). Roberta composed the opera La Terr Bonne (or The Land of the Maple Leaf) to a libretto by A. Klugh and a plot set in Canada and South Africa. The premiere performance was held at the Guelph Royal Oper House in February 1903. Her oratorio Salvator (or The Savior), was compiled from Scriptures and premiered at St. George's Church in 1907. Salvator is recognized as likely one of the first oratorios written and published by a Canadian composer. Roberta also wrote anthems, hymns, instrumental pieces and at least 20 songs. Her published work dates between 1897-1919. Geddes-Harvey is recognized as one of Canada's first women composers. Roberta Geddes-Harvey died in Guelph on 22 April 1930. She is interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Updated 2025 |
People |
Harvey, Roberta (Geddes) Shortreed, Mrs. |
Search Terms |
St. George's Church |
Subjects |
ARTS - MUSIC MUSIC |
Dimensions |
Cover, Paper - 26.8 x 17.2 cm - L x W |
Collection |
Archives |