American Fuging-Tunes 1770-1820

The fuging-tune has long been associated with American music. Indeed it was once thought to have been an American innovation but research has shown that like much else in 18th-century America the fuging-tune had its origins in England. The American composer adopted and developed it added his own expressive touches and made it a primary vehicle for his musical creativity. The almost 1300 fuging-tunes by American composers published between 1770 and 1820 testify to their widespread popularity and musical impact. They represent about a quarter of all the pieces composed by American psalmodists and are by far the most imaginative musical settings for religious poetry.