Zarh Myron Bickford (1876 - 1961)

Mandolinenschulen siehe: Bickford Mandolinenschule

Vahdah Olcott Bickford

Die Ehefrau von Zarh Myron Bickford - Vahdah Olcott Bickford - Gitarristin und Gründerin der American Guitar Society

Dort findet man anlässlich des 90. Geburtstages der American Guitar Society eine Biographie von Vahdah Olcott Bickford:

• http://www.americanguitarsociety.org/anniversary.html.php

Das Archiv mit der Korrespondenz von Vahdah Olcott Bickford kann man hier online einsehen:

• Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Correspondence

Weitere Bickford Links:

• https://pinboard.in/u:mandoisland/t:bickford/

Zarh Myron Bickford

Bickford Mandolin Method, 4 Volumes

• http://www.mandolincafe.com/glossary/glossary_75.shtml

Zarh Myron Bickford was one of the foremost mandolin players, composers and teachers of his time, and is best known for authoring The Bickford Mandolin Method, a four-volume collection considered one of the finest to come from an American author.

Married in 1915 to the prominent guitar player Vadah Olcott-Bickford (born Ethel Lucretia Olcott), they often performed together. Both shared an interest in astrology and the names Vahdah and Zarh reflect this interest.

An interesting discussion in the mandolincafe:

• http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?24827-Who-was-Bickford

Vahdah Olcott Bickford was the wife of Zarh Myron Bickford. She was the founder of the  American Guitar Society

On the website of the American Guitar Society you can find a biography of Vahdah Olcott Bickford which was published for the 90th anniversary of the society:

• http://www.americanguitarsociety.org/anniversary.html.php

The archive of the correspondence of Vahdah Olcott Bickford is available online:

• Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Correspondence

More Bickford links:

• https://pinboard.in/u:mandoisland/t:bickford/

Ensemble Concert

A programme of compositions by great composers written for the mandolin and guitar.

Vahdah E. L. Olcott - Guitariste

Myron A. Bickford - Mandolinist, Pianist and mando-cellist

A. Veder - Cellist

Lilian B. Heyward - Soprano

Bickford-Kitchener Concert

On Saturday evening last the Waldorf appartements in the Waldorf-Astoria, Manhatten, were filled to overflowing with a fashionable audience, for the concert of  the Bickford-Kitchener coterie of  mandolin, banjo, guitar and fretted instruments. Mme Valdah Olcott-Bickford and Zarh Myron Bickford, and W. J. Kitchener, the eminent authority on mandolin and banjo music, gave a programme of infinite variety, showing the scope of these instruments in a remarkable manner. They were assisted by ensemble players who are all unter these master-teachers, the New York Mandolin Ensemble (50 players), New York Junior Mandolin Club, Columbia University Mandolin Club, Horace Mann School Mandolin Club, Hawaiian Ensemble and the Lutina Trio. Harry L. Hunt was the singer assisting. The programme opened with the National Anthem, rendered by the entire New York Mandolin Ensemble, conducted by W. J. Kitchener, and as an instance of what can be done by a skilled artist on the banjo, Mr. Kitchener did Schubert's "March Militaire," and gave a superb rendition of "Hark, hark, the Lark." In tone an technic Mr. Kitchener's work suggested that of the great violinists. He certainly got all that could be secured in effect from the banjo. He is the instructor in mpost of the big schools an colleges near New York, and has a big list of private pupils too. Mme. Bickford played the first concerts for guitar, by an American composer, Zarh Bickford, and its three movements were full of interest and originality. Mr. Hurd has a fine tenor voice which he used to excellent advantage. He did three interesting English songs by Mr. Bickford. There were medleys of popular war songs by the various groups and the evening was oneof great pleasure to several hundred people. A number of prominent persons were present and there was a long list of patronesses.

8:55 P. M. - Program of mandolin and guitar music rendered by Zarh Myron Bickford, composer, president American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists and Vahda Olcott Bickford assisted by H.H. Maass and A.S. Crane. Programme: Quartet, "Boston Ideal March," Siegel: "Song of India," Rimsky-Korsakow concert waltz, "La Brunette," Severn, march, "Street Parade," Stauffer; guitar solo, "Romanza" from "Concerto Romantico," Bickford, by Mrs. Bickford; mandolin solo, novelty march, "California Girl," Bickford, by Mr. Bickford, "Sonatine," Diabelli, by Mrs. Bickford, guitar and Mr. Bickford, piano; duet, "Venetian Love Song," Nevin, by Mr. Bickford mandocello and Mrs. Bickford, guitar; mandocello and guitar duet, "To a Wild Rose," MacDowell, by Mr. and Mrs. Bickford; mandolin solo, "Meditation," from "Thais," Massenet, by Mr. Bickford, guitar accompaniment, Mrs. Bickford.

Geschichte der American Guild of Music,
Nachfolgeorganisation der
American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists:

History of the American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists:

Website American Guild of Music - History