Gertrude Martin Rohrer (Mrs. Frederick F.) was born in Princeton, Indiana. Her father, Rev. D. C. Martin, was pastor of the Covenanter Church in that city for a number of years. Her mother, Lucretia Mott McIntosh, was a talented musician and artist and began the teaching which her children received in music, when they were young.
The family moved to Pittsburgh, where Dr. Martin became pastor of the East End Reformed Presbyterian Church.
In 1892, Mrs. Rohrer, with her sister, Mrs. W. C. Bond (Rachel Martin), took up their studies at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa. After graduating, they both took Post Graduate work at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
In 1904, Miss Gertrude Martin was married to Mr. Frederick Findlay Rohrer, and lived in Wilkinsburg until 1911 when they moved to their present address at 6909 Meade Street, E. E., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Regarding her career as a musician, Mrs. Rohrer said:
“A few years ago I chanced to come across a little book by Arnold Bennett entitled ‘How to Live on Twenty-four Hours a Day.’ This book set forth the idea of after taking out eight hours for work, eight for sleep and whatever time was necessary for dressing, eating, etc., everyone has a few hours left. What can one do to get results from this three or four hours each day?”
She goes on to point out that a vast amount of reading, study, or work can be accomplished if one is conscientious and systematic in the use of this time.
“I found that I could use my spare hours in pursuing a study which had always seemed most interesting than the last. While studying I wrote songs, piano numbers, violin numbers, little plays with music, and various musical compositions and very timidly sent them to publishers only to have them all returned in due time, accompanied by a polite little printed slip of rejection.
A friend, who has many published works, gave me a letter of introduction to his publisher in the East one time, and said some very nice things about my work. I shall never forget how surprised I was to find the publisher — a very human sort of person, quite willing to look over my manuscripts, and greatly interested in my boys, who both happened to be with me at the time.
I left a number of songs and a little cantata entitled ‘In Santa Claus Land’ with him, and upon my return home a few weeks later, they all came back with one exception. He had accepted the little cantata.”
“I was so thrilled that I flew to my desk and began to copy other numbers which I sent to the same publisher. One of these was accepted and I felt that I had almost ‘arrived’. Many disappointments followed, however, but I felt that mine was the common fate of all who write, and I never felt discouraged. It is like an interesting game. If you don’t win this time, you may the next.”
Mrs. Rohrer took the complete courses in Harmony and Counterpoint at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute, under Charles N. Boyd, studied composition with Harvey B. Gaul of Pittsburgh and Adolph Vedlig of Chicago. She was made chairman of the composers’ group of the Tuesday Musical Club of Pittsburgh when it was organized and later was also head of the music department of the Tuesday Musical Club, which office she now holds.
She is also president of the Pittsburgh Branch of the League of American Penwomen (Pen Women). Her state song “Pennsylvania” was adopted as the official state song of the Federation of Women’s Music Clubs in Pennsylvania at their last convention in Philadelphia.
Some of her children’s songs have been incorporated in Mr. Will Earhart’s books of music for school use, published by Ginn & Co., of Boston. Her song “The Bugle Call” — words by Dr. William Mehard Davidson, superintendent of Pittsburgh schools — was used and purchased by the National Education Association.
“The Wood-Nymph”, a song for women’s choral singing, was dedicated to the Tuesday Musical Club choir and published by J. Fischer & Bro., of New York.
Five songs published by Theo. Presser Co., of Philadelphia are:
- “My Little House”
- “I Miss You”
- “Home Again”
- “Home From School”
- “Halloween”
Mrs. Rohrer’s music has been featured on many programs of Pittsburgh composers.
(Republished from the original article in The Geneva Alumnus, date unknown)
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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