Gertrude Auld Thomas Explained

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.

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]

Notes and References

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