The American Mozart: Composer Timothy Olmsted

Timothy Olmsted’s lifelong dedication to music made him one of the country’s earliest influential musicians.
The American Mozart: Composer Timothy Olmsted
A detail of "The Flute-Player," 19th century, by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier. Public Domain
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During his lifetime, musician Timothy Olmsted (1759–1848) was a bandsman in the Continental Army, a composer of sacred music, a teacher, and a published author. His breadth of work and professional accomplishments helped give the fledgling country its own unique musical identity.

Through an exploration of his published works, we gain insight into the man responsible for so many of America’s earliest treasured songs and come to understand why his fans once honored him publicly with the impressive nickname, “Mozart of America.”

The Lexington Alarm

Rebecca Day
Rebecca Day
Author
Rebecca Day is a freelance writer and independent musician. For more information on her music and writing, visit her Substack, Classically Cultured, at classicallycultured.substack.com