Early German music in Philadelphia

The study traces the development of musical life among Philadelphia’s German-speaking communities from early hymn-singing and church performance practices to the ascendancy of secular music. It reviews hymnody, liturgical performance, and the emergence of private teachers, music dealers and public concerts, then profiles central figures such as Alexander Reinagle and other prominent local musicians. Organized in three chronological sections, the work documents changing tastes, repertory, modes of performance, and the infrastructure that supported musical activity, and concludes by cataloging the major compositions associated with the city’s leading composer.