Ada Weigel Powers

Ada Elvira Weigel Powers (30 May 1863 - 6 Oct 1947)[1] was an American composer, pianist, and playwright who composed songs[2] and music for ballet,[3] piano, and violin.[4]

Powers was born in Watertown, New York, to Elvira Ada Kane and Samuel Mann Weigel.[5] Little is known about her education. She married John Orville John Powers in 1897 and they had two boys and two girls.[6]

Powers’ compositions were performed by baritone David Bispham[7] and organist Clarence Eddy,[8] with whom she collaborated on “Shepherd’s Song.” [9] Her works were published by Edward Schuberth & Company,[10] and included:

Ballet

  • Slavonic Dance (string orchestra)[11]

Chamber

  • Exile Song (violin and piano)[12]

Piano

  • Clown’s Serenade[9]
  • May Day Dance[13]
  • Miniature Dance[9]
  • Shepherd’s Song[9]
  • Song of the Wildflowers[9]
  • Souvenir[14]
  • Story of Long Ago[13]
  • Three Compositions for Pianoforte[9]

Plays

Vocal

  • “Chanson d’Amour”[17]
  • “Elaine” (baritone and piano; text Alfred Lord Tennyson)[18]
  • “Jester’s Drinking Song” (text by Powers; music by George E. Shea)[9]
  • “Last Invocation” (text by Walt Whitman)[19]
  • “Shepherd’s Song” (text by Powers; music by Clarence Eddy)[9]
  • “Thou Art Like a Flower” (text by Heinrich Heine)[9]
  • “Weep Not for the Dead”[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Biographical Dictionary of the Organ | Ada Weigel Powers". www.organ-biography.info. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  2. ↑ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music USA. p. 558. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
  3. ↑ Wier, Albert E. (1938). The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians. New York: The Macmillan Company. p. 1462.
  4. ↑ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen London: the Scarecrow press. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
  5. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  6. ↑ Harvard Class of 1891 - Fifth Report. Rockwell & Churchill Press. 1911.
  7. ↑ "David Bispham, America's Baritone, Coming to Liberty". Evening Times Star. Alameda, California. 22 Nov 1911. p. 7.
  8. ↑ Music News. Music News Corporation. 1916.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Ada Weigel Powers". search.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  10. ↑ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: a checklist of works for the solo voice. A Reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: G.K. Hall. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.
  11. ↑ The Crescendo. Crescendo Publishing Company. 1914.
  12. ↑ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1929.
  13. 1 2 Musical Observer. Musical Observer Company. 1928.
  14. ↑ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1930). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Fourth Series. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
  15. ↑ Catalogue of Copyright Entries. Jon Orwant.
  16. ↑ Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Pamphlets, leaflets, contributions to newspapers or periodicals, etc.; lectures, sermons, addresses for oral delivery; dramatic compositions; maps; motion pictures. Part 1, group 2. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1920.
  17. ↑ Musical Observer. Musical Observer Company. 1928.
  18. ↑ "Reading of "Elaine"". Montclair Times. New Jersey. 7 March 1914. p. 5.
  19. ↑ "Ada Weigel Powers Song Texts | LiederNet". www.lieder.net. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
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