Samuel A. Ward
Samuel Augustus Ward (born December 28, 1847 in Newark , New Jersey , † September 28, 1903 there ) was an American organist and composer .
Life
Ward studied music in New York City . From 1880 he held the position of organist at the Episcopal Church in Newark. As a composer he became known for his melody written in 1882 for the song " America the Beautiful " . He had composed the melody under the name "Materna" on the ferry from Coney Island to Newark. The text comes from a poem by Katharine Lee Bates from 1893. The song is now considered to be an unofficial national anthem alongside " God Bless America " . Ward died in his birthplace in 1903 and did not live to see the release of the song himself. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark.
Awards
Ward was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970 .
Web links
- Short biography in the Songwriters Hall of Fame
- Sheet music and audio files by Samuel A. Ward in the International Music Score Library Project
- Sheet music in the public domain by Samuel A. Ward in the Choral Public Domain Library - ChoralWiki (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Ward, Samuel A. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ward, Samuel Augustus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | american composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 28, 1847 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Newark , New Jersey |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 28, 1903 |
| Place of death | Newark , New Jersey |