THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA performs 20th century composer Thomas Canning’s Fantasy on a Hymn Tune by Justin Morgan.

Justin Morgan (1747-1798) was an American composer who was also a farmer, horse breeder, singing instructor and municipal clerk in Randolph, Vermont. He owned a stallion who sired the Morgan horse breed.

Canning (1911-1989) was a professor of composition at the Eastman school and composer-in-residence at West Virginia University. He wrote this beautiful interpretation of one of Morgan’s hymns, “Amanda,” a tribute to Morgan’s wife, Martha Day, who died ten days after giving birth to their youngest daughter.

The work accompanies in this video paintings by the Hudson River School painters.

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