Music of Colonial America

Music of colonial America was not very developed for the first one hundred years. There weren't many people in the newly settled communities, and music needs a large community to thrive.

But music was important nevertheless, like it always is. The fact that the second book published in colonial America was a reprint of the English Psalm book, testifies to the importance of music to early colonists. The book was published in 1640, 20 years after the first settlement at Plymouth.

In 1700, first organ was imported to America. Other similar instruments soon followed to different parts of the country. When Edward Bromfield of Boston died in 1746, he was working on the first American-built organ.

First pipe organ to be placed in an American church was probably the one placed in Christ Church in Philadelphia in 1728. If that's true, then American churches lived without pipe organs for a 100 years!

There are records that say small wind instruments were also brought to Boston, for the purposes of trade.

Music of early colonial America primarily consisted of church singing. Early composers of New England were mainly occupied with composing psalm tunes, and teaching singing schools.

In 1720, first singing societies were established in New England.

The first secular music concert recorded did not come until 1731. That's how it was back in the old days. Music was primarily a religious activity.

In 1742, Moravian settlement was established in Bethlehem, PA. They were very musical people, and took colonial music to the next level. Their church had two organs. They also used violin, viola da braccio, viola da gamba, flutes and French horns during services.

Sources:

Lahee, Henry Charles. Annals of Music in America; a Chronological Record of Significant Musical Events, from 1640 to the Present Day, with Comments on the Various Periods into Which the Work Is Divided. Boston: Marshall Jones, 1922. Print.