About Oley Speaks
Oley Speaks (1874-1948) was an esteemed American composer and songwriter, primarily celebrated for his significant contributions to the art song and religious music genres. His compositions, characterized by their lyrical melodies and expressive texts, became fixtures in the vocal repertoire of the early 20th century. Speaks’ most enduring legacy is arguably his setting of Rudyard Kipling’s poem, "On the Road to Mandalay," a work that cemented his place in music history and remains widely performed today.
- Before dedicating himself fully to composition, Oley Speaks enjoyed a successful career as a baritone singer, performing in recitals and oratorios across the United States.
- His iconic song, "On the Road to Mandalay," published in 1907, achieved remarkable commercial success, selling over one million copies.
- Beyond "Mandalay," Speaks had two other notable million-selling hits: "Morning" (1910) and "Sylvia" (1914).
- Speaks was an active and influential member of the musical community, serving as a director for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) from 1924 to 1943.
Oley Speaks' sheet music offers a rewarding experience for vocalists and pianists of various skill levels, from intermediate to advanced. His songs, rooted in the 19th-century parlor ballad tradition, feature accessible piano accompaniments and beautiful, sentimental melodies. Performers will find great satisfaction in bringing to life his heartfelt settings of poems by renowned authors like Rudyard Kipling, Emily Dickinson, and Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as his numerous inspiring sacred songs suitable for church services and spiritual reflection.
