Louise E. Stairs Explained

Louise E. Simpson Stairs (March 24, 1892 - November 1975)^[1] was an American composer,^[2] organist,^[3] and pianist, who sometimes published under the pseudonym Sidney Forrest.^{[4] [5]} She composed several cantatas, as well as piano and vocal works for children.

Stairs was born in Troupsburg, New York,^[6] to Alice Clare Stephens and Colonel Ellsworth Simpson. She married Alpheus Wade Stairs on September 3, 1912, and they had a daughter (Ruth). Little is known about Stairs’ education. Her music was published by Carl Fischer Music, Hall-Mack Co.,^[7] Oliver Ditson,^[8] and Theodore Presser Co.^[9] Her compositions include:

Cantatas

• Choral Cantata^[10]
• Infant Holy: Christmas Cantata^[11]
• Light O’er Bethlehem: Christmas Cantata^[12]

Organ

• Advent Prayer^[13]
• Arietta
• Bright and Morning Star
• He Shall Be Their Shepherd
• Manger’s Gift
• Master Call
• Sabbath Morning
• White Lillies

Piano

• Clocks in the Hall (with E. B. Marks)
• Floating Clouds
• Peach Blooms^[14]
• Soldiers at Play
• Sunday Morning^[15]
• To Whit, To Whoo
• Uncle Ben^[16]

Vocal

• “His Loving Call”
• “Hush-a-bye Dolly”
• “Finding Fairies”
• “Lazy Frog”^[17]
• “Lift Up Your Heads”
• “Lord, Speak to Me” (text by Frances Ridley Havergal)^[18]
• “Nest of Baby Bunnies”^[19]
• “Robin Redbreast’s Song”^[20]
• “Robin’s Song”^[21]
• “Sailboats”^[22]
• “So Longeth My Soul for Thee”
• “There is an Eye that Never Sleeps”
• “When the Robin Sings”
• “Woodland Concert”
• Hear works for organ by Louise E. Stairs

Notes and References

1. Web site: Louise E. Stairs. 2021-12-26. www.ancestry.com.
2. 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.
3. Book: Anderson, Ruth. Contemporary American composers : a biographical dictionary. 1976. G.K. Hall. 0-8161-1117-0. Boston. 2035024.
4. Book: Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed.. 2014-01-10. McFarland. 978-0-7864-5763-2. en.
5. Book: Burns, Kristine Helen. Women and Music in America Since 1900: An Encyclopedia. 2002. Greenwood Press. 978-1-57356-309-3. en.
6. Book: Stern, Susan. Women composers : a handbook. 1978. Scarecrow Press. 0-8108-1138-3. Metuchen, N.J.. 3844725.
7. Web site: Hymns of Pentecost 31. There's a gentle voice that's calling Hymnary.org. 2021-12-26. hymnary.org. en.
8. Book: Musart. 1953. en.
9. Book: Stairs. Louise E.. Hush - a - bye, Dolly. Stairs. Louise E.. 1940. Theodore Presser Co. en.
10. Book: Cohen, Aaron I.. International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. 1987. Books & Music (USA). 978-0-9617485-1-7. en.
11. Book: Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. 1941. Library of Congress, Copyright Office.. en.
12. Web site: The Light o'er Bethlehem. 2021-12-26. www.carlfischer.com. en.
13. Web site: Louise E. Stairs. 2021-12-26. www.youtube.com.
14. Book: Stewart-Green, Miriam. Women composers : a checklist of works for the solo voice. 1980. G.K. Hall. 0-8161-8498-4. Boston, Mass.. 6815939.
15. Book: Office, Library of Congress Copyright. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. 1950. en.
16. Book: Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. 1939. Library of Congress, Copyright Office.. en.
17. Book: The Music Magazine/Musical Courier. 1951. en.
18. Book: Claghorn, Charles Eugene. Women composers and songwriters : a concise biographical dictionary. 1996. Scarecrow Press. 0-585-03162-2. Lanham, Md.. 42329817.
19. Book: Music Clubs Magazine: Official Organ. 1952. The Federation. en.
20. Book: Music Clubs Magazine. 1950. National Federation of Music Clubs.. en.
21. Book: Music Clubs Magazine. 1939. National Federation of Music Clubs.. en.
22. Book: Office, Library of Congress Copyright. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series. 1963. en.