Harry Rowe Shelley (1858-1947) was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and attended Hopkins Grammar School. At age 14, he played the organ at Center Church on the Green in New Haven. He studied music at Yale and with Dudley Buck, Max Vogrich, and Antonín Dvořák in New York. He also studied in London and Paris. He was an accomplished organist, holding positions at Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn; Plymouth Church, Brooklyn; Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, New York, (later known as Park Avenue Baptist and Riverside Church); and Central Congregational Church, Brooklyn. He taught at the American Institute of Applied Music (Metropolitan College) in New York City, and was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He died in Short Beach, Connecticut. He composed two symphonies; a symphonic poem, a suite for orchestra, sacred cantatas, a violin concerto; an opera, songs and organ pieces. He also composed many hymns and anthems.

All are mixed chorus unless noted; some contain divisi.