Fuguing tune

In 1941, Cowell discovered a collection of evocative 19th-century American hymns titled Southern Harmony.

These reminded him of even earlier works by 18th-century American composer William Billings, who liked to write what he called fuguing tunes.

Combining those two influences, Henry Cowell came up with his own series of hymns and fuguing tunes for various combinations of instruments.

Cowell's Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 10 for oboe and strings, for example, was premiered on today's date in 1955 in Santa Barbara by oboist Burt Gasman and the Pacific Coast Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski.

Composer Datebook is produced by APM, American Public Media, in collaboration with the American Composers Forum, reminding you that all music was once new.