| 1 min read

American composer, music educator, and banker known as the 'Father of American Church Music' for his transformative role in sacred music and music education.Pioneered music education in American public schools; served as first music superintendent for Boston schools (1837); composed over 1,600 hymn tunes; co-founded Boston Academy of Music; published influential hymnals like 'The Boston Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music' (1822)....