Vahdah Olcott-Bickford

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford

Young Ethel Olcott

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford was an American guitarist, teacher, composer, arranger, and writer. Her Guitar Method, Op. 25, and the Advanced Course, Op. 116, continue to be highly influential. She and her husband Zarh Bickford were avid astrologers and had many connections to the Theosophical Movement.

Early years

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford was born on October 17, 1885 as Ethel Lucretia Olcott in Norwalk, Ohio. Her parents were a carpenter, James A. Olcott, and his wife Jennie. A sister Enid was born two years after Ethel. The family moved to Socorro, California, and then Los Angeles while Ethel was very young. In 1893, at the age of eight, she began studying with a guitar teacher, George C. Lindsay.

Bickfords with instruments

Label of Zarvah Art recording

Artistic career

While still living with her parents in 1910, Ethel was already teaching music. In 1911, she moved to New York, where she taught private lessons to Cornelius Vanderbilt and Bernard Baruch. She met a mandolinist, Myron Bickford, and they began performing together in various ensembles. By 1914 they had decided to be married, and the service took place in 1915. They changed their names to Vahdah and Zarh as astrologically-significant stage names that became their legal identities. The couple worked together in performances and in preparing musical scores and recordings to sell through their Zarvah Publishing Company. Zarh taught music in the public schools. In 1919 Vahdah became the first woman guitarist to be recorded. Interest in Zarvah recordings and books was international; they received requests from as far away as Bombay.

The Bickfords became quite well known, touring the East Coast and performing live on radio. In Washington, DC, for example, the local chapter of the American Guild of Banjoists, Mandolinists and Guitarists gave a concert:

Mrs. Olcott-Bickford gave the first presentation here of "First Concerto," written by and American composer, Zarh Myron Bickford, who assisted at the piano, and was compelled by an admiring audience to give an additional number.”

They were called "the best in the country in their line of work.” Around 1919, the Bickfords moved to Los Angeles. By 1920, Vahdah's mother Jennie Olcott had moved in with them..

Vahdah became very active with the local musical community. She was a founder of the American Guitar Society in 1923; she contributed greatly to Crescendo magazine, and worked for AGS as secretary and musical director. "Zarvah Publishing Company worked together with AGS to provide new and renewing members with published music every year.” Her work in composing, transcribing, fingering, and publishing music was prodigious. She taught in the Zoellner Conservatory of Music in Hollywood, and wrote columns for both Cadenza and The Serenader magazines.

Interest in astrology

Both Ethel and Myron were keenly interested in astrology, and took the exotic names Vahdah and Zarh at the recommendation of an astrologer. In 1915, when planning their wedding, Vahdah approached Frank Theodore Allen of Astrological Research Society, asking him to conduct the ceremony. However, the local laws did not permit him to be an officiant, and he had to decline. He did, however, approve the astrological chart of the proposed ceremony as being auspicious. The marriage took place in New Jersey.

Vahdah was a teacher in the First Temple and College of Astrology in Los Angeles, lecturing once a month on world affairs and current events; conducted Open Forum for the college; and lined up speakers. She was well acquainted with prominent astrologers such as Evangeline Adams, Elbert Benjamine (aka C. C. Zain), and Dane Rudhyar. The Bickfords had much in common with Rudhyar, who was also a composer and interested in Theosophy. Vahdah wrote articles for astrological magazines, including "The Higher Octaves of Venus and Mercury" and "The Opposition" for Astrology; "Biochemic Remedies" for The Astrologers’ Quarterly; and "Colors and Gems from the Astrological Standpoint" for The Astrological Bulletina. She sent astrological charts by mail, and could have made a living from astrology had she not been so occupied with her music. She was a member of the American Federation of Astrologers.

Involvement with Theosophists

The Bickfords were linked to several branches of the Theosophical Movement, although the depth of her involvement is not documented. Ethel Olcott was on cordial terms with Theosophist Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and as Vahdah Olcott-Bickford corresponded with astrologer/theosophist Charles E. O. Carter.

In July, 1919, the magazine Azoth castigated Theosophist Katherine Tingley for her expression of brotherhood toward the German people. Magazine editor Michael Whitty was sarcastic about Mrs. Tingley, and felt she went too far in the direction of reconciliation. Mrs. Bickford sent a letter in sympathy with his views, and he responded gratefully. Whitty expressed in a later issue that he believed in brotherhood as "at-one-ment with all," but felt the German people needed to accept responsibility for their actions. We do not have Vahdah's letter to know her exact viewpoint, but since she was reading Azoth, she had been exposed to the names Tingley and Besant and knew of the Theosophical Society.

In 1922 the Bickfords corresponded with Elbert Benjamine. Their Zarvah Publishing ordered lessons from his Brotherhood of Light, which was an offshoot of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. Some nineteenth-century Theosophists found the HBL appealing because it offered practical teachings of occultism, but the organization was regarded a fraud by Theosophical Society founder Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. In the 1920s, the Brotherhood of Light's correspondence course included lessons on occultism, tarot, masonry, astrology, alchemy, and other subjects.

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford corresponded with the Theosophical Society headquartered in Covina, California in 1943. A letter from Elsie Savage confirmed that TS Secretary-General John Van Mater was willing to conduct an initiation of the Bickfords into the Society, and also spoke of personal matters. She had sent a picture of Mahatma Koot Hoomi to Vahdah previously.

Another hint at Vahdah's interest in Theosophy comes from a letter she received from Vladimir Bobri of the Society of the Classic Guitar, indicating that she discussed the subject with friends:

I was pleased that you liked the Xmas card. I must say that I have read the majority of H. P. Blavatsky's writings although I could not say that I have studied them, and I was very interested to have learned that you are a relative of Col. Olcott. You surely can be very proud of that, for his and HPB's work was the most humanitarian one of all in our century. The Russian lady who answers our correspondence has been especially interested in what you said in connection with theosophical movement, for it seems that she is deeply interest in those matters.

In 1953, James S. Perkins, president of the Theosophical Society in America, wrote to Mrs. Olcott-Bickford to ask whether she was related to Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, co-founder of the original Theosophical Society. Her reply has not been found, and her relationship to Col. Olcott is still under investigation.

Later years

Zarh died on March 22, 1961. Vahdah was devastated. On November 11, 1968, she later remarried Robert Revere, appending Revere to the rest of her name. In 1977 she gave a final concert for the American Guitar Society. She died at the age of 94 on May 18, 1980 in Los Angeles.

Legacy

The American Guitar Society has an annual Bickford Competition with students competing for awards and cash prizes.

The Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection at California State University, Northridge is an archival collection of over 15,000 items left by Mrs. Olcot-Bickford. It is one of the largest collections of scores, magazines, correspondence, and other materials about guitars in existence, and draws scholars and performers from all over the world.

Books and scores written

These are a few of Olcott-Bickford's scores and books of instruction, in chronological order. Some were collaborations with Zarh Bickford.

• Concerto Romantico: for guitar with piano accompaniment. New York: Z.M. Bickford, 1920. 19 pages. Composed by Zarh Myron Bickford ; edited and fingered by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford..
• Bickford Method for the Ukulele. Boston ; New York: Oliver Ditson Company, 1921. 74 pages. By Vahdah Olcott Bickford and Zarh Myron Bickford.
• Olcott-Bickford Method for the Guitar. Boston ; New York: Oliver Ditson Company, 1921. 120 pages.
• Twenty-five melodious and progressive studies for guitar: op. 60 New York: C. Fischer, 1920 and 1963. Works of Matteo Carcassi (1792-1853), edited and fingered by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford.
• Seven Solos for guitar. New York: Zarvah, 1922. Edited or arranged by Vaddah Olcott-Bickford.
• Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana: guitar solo. New York: Zarvah, 1923. P. Mascagni; transcription by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford, op. 110.
• Advanced Course for the Guitar. Boston: Oliver Ditson Co., 1924. 120 pages.
• Schubert album for guitar: transcriptions and biographical sketch of Schubert as a guitarist . Los Angeles, CA: American Guitar Society, 1925. 14 pages.
• Spanish and Mexican album for guitar solo, Op. 123. Los Angeles, CA: American Guitar Society, 1928. 19 pages.
• Beethoven Album for Guitar. Los Angeles, CA: American Guitar Society, 1927. 30 pages.
• Master Album for guitar solo: rare original works of the masters with biographical sketches. Hollywood, CA: American Guitar Society, 1931. 21 pages. Works by various composers, edited and fingered by Vahdah Olcott Bickford.
• Granada: [fantasia española] for Guitar Duet. New York: Peer International Corp., 1932. 5 pages. Agustín Lara ; [arr ; by Vahdah Olcott Bickford].
• Russian album for guitar: op. 125. Los Angeles, CA: American Guitar Society, 1932. Edited by Vahdah Olcott Bickford.
• Songs for Guitar: op. 126. Los Angeles, Calif. : Zarvah, 1932. Accompaniments by Vahdah Olcott Bickford.
• Blue book of favorites for guitar: op. 127. Los Angeles, CA: American Guitar Society, 1933. Various composers, transcribed for guitar by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford.
• Chopin Album for Guitar. Hollywood, CA: American Guitar Society, 1949. 20 pages. Transcribed and edited by Vahdah Olcott Bickford, Op. 138.
• Handel Album for Guitar. Hollywood, CA: American Guitar Society, 1959. 24 pages. Music of George F. Handel; transcribed, compiled and edited by Vahdah Olcott Bickford, op. 139.
• Macarena (La virgen de la Macarena). New York: Peer International Corp., 1961. 5 pages. Bernardino Bautista Monterde; arr. for guitar duet by Vahdah Olcott Bickford.
• Jesu, joy of Man's Desiring: two guitars. Hollywood, CA: American Guitar Society, 1964. 4 pages. Johann Sebastian Bach; transcribed by Zarh M. Bickford ; [fingered by Vahdah Olcott Bickford].
• Method for Classic Guitar. New York: Peer International Corp., 1964. 120 pages.
• Advanced Method for Classic Guitar. New York: Peer International Corp., 1967. 120 pages. Transcriptions of famous masterpieces [by] Vahdah Olcott Bickford.
• Classic guitar solo album, volume one. Beverly Hills, CA: Paragon Music Publications, 1968.
• Classic guitar solo album, volume two. Beverly Hills, CA: Paragon Music Publications, 1970.

Collections of her works

Guitar music collection of Vahdah Olcott-Bickford, catalog compiled by Ron Purcell. Music Library of California State University, Northridge: International Guitar Research Archive, 1991.

Additional resources

Articles

• The Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection by Gregg Miner. Posted in Gregg’s Blog on Harpquitars.net website on July 18, 2014. Lengthy tribute to Vahdah Olcott-Bickford with many photos and descriptions of her archival collection.
• "History" at American Guitar Society website.

Books

• Laurence, Juber, ed. The evolution of the fingerstyle guitar: classical guitar history and repertoire from the 16th to the 20th century. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, 2019. See "Under the Greenwood Tree" by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford.
• Noonan, Jeffrey. The Guitar in America: Victorian Era to Jazz Age.
• Summerfield, Maurice. The Classical Guitar, Its Evolution, Players and Personalities Since 1800. See "Vahdah Olcott Bickford" section.

Archival collections

• Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection at California State University, Northridge. "The International Guitar Research Archives (IGRA) was founded in 1980 by Professor Ronald C. Purcell upon the donation of the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection, and holds one of the world’s largest collections of resources documenting the lives and music and careers of guitarists, guitar composers, and related organizations. IGRA also houses one of the world’s largest repositories of guitar sheet music."

Video

• Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Method for Classical Guitar is a YouTube channel by Norbert Neunzling with a series of 44 videos, performing one of Vahdah’s exercises in each.

• Vadah Olcott-Bickford Rare Recordings Project BobbyZ at MrRJFlood1 YouTube channel. Posted February 28, 2022. Illustrated with photos. Vahdah is performing, but the sound quality is poor.

• Zahr Myron Bickford and Vahdah Olcott-Bickford: Venetian Love Song on mandocello and guitar, 1921 in Neil Gladd YouTube channel. Posted March 13, 2022. "This is the only recording that I have by Zahr Myron Bickford (1876-1960) and Vahdah Olcott-Bickford (1885 – 1980), here playing mandocello and guitar, and it was the very first record on their own Zarvah Art label, from 1921. Bickford is well-known to mandolinists from his 4 volume mandolin method, and another method for mandocello."

• Moderato by Vahdah Olcott Bickford: A Guitar Tutorial featuring Maeve McCarthy on Southwestern University YouTube channel. "This beautiful work comes from Olcott Bickford's Guitar Method and is performed here by Southwestern University student Maeve McCarthy. This piece is appropriate for beginning to intermediate level guitarists. The tutorial features a scrolling score, brief lesson, and a performance at concert speed."

• Graceful Dance by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford on Ciyadh Wells YouTube channel. Posted September 29, 2020. Performed by Ciyadh Wells.

• "Caprice Orientale" - Vahdah Olcott Bickford on Arnaud Lachambre YouTube channel. Posted Jan 18, 2024. Performed by Arnuad Lachambre.

• "America" arranged by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford performed by Brian Chabza. Posted on Feb 17, 2019 on Brian Chabza YouTube channel.

• Vahdah Olcott Bickford - Buttercup Waltz (Emily Hochheim) Guitar student Emily Hochheim performing a composition by Vahdah Olcott-Bickford at Guitar Dójó Mühlhausen on August 10, 2018.

• 1930 Martin 2-44 Guitar Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Artist Model at MrRJFlood1 YouTube channel. Posted February 28, 2022. "Four Martin size 2 Style 44 'Artist Model' guitars were made in 1930 for the prodigal guitar virtuoso and teacher Vahdah Olcott-Bickford." This is her famous guitar played in 2013.

• Women in the History of the Classical Guitar - Dr. Candice Mowbray, 2022 on Candice Mobrary YouTube channel. Posted Oct 31, 2023. Powerpoint-style history lecture with biographical sketches of many women guitarists.