Aaron Williams (composer) facts for kids

Aaron Williams (1731–1776) was a Welsh teacher and composer. He was known for his "West Gallery music" in Britain during the 1700s.

Life of Aaron Williams

Aaron Williams was likely born in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales. His father's name was William Morgan. Williams worked as a clerk at the Presbyterian Scots Church in London.

Williams' Influence on American Music

Aaron Williams had a big impact on church music in early America. American composers, sometimes called "Yankee tunesmiths," learned from English musicians like Williams. They developed a unique style of church music.

How Williams Shaped American Music

Many ideas that seemed new in American church music actually came from British composers. Williams and another English composer, William Tans'ur, were important teachers for these American musicians. For example, William Billings, a famous American composer, studied Williams's work closely.

The Popular Tune "St. Thomas"

One of Aaron Williams's most famous tunes is "St. Thomas." It was first part of a longer song called "Holborn." Williams published "Holborn" in his book Universal Psalmodist in 1763. He said this tune had "never before printed."

"St. Thomas" was later published on its own as a shorter tune. This happened around 1769 in a book called The Psalm-Singer's Help. Williams also included it in his own 1770 book, New Universal Psalmodist.

"St. Thomas" in America

The tune "St. Thomas" became very popular in the United States. It appeared in many American songbooks, especially those using shape note music. Shape notes are a way to help people read music easily.

Here are some of the American songbooks that included "St. Thomas":

• The Easy Instructor (1801) by William Little and William Smith.
• The Virginia Harmony (1831) by David Clayton and James Carrell.
• The Methodist Harmonist (1833).
• The Missouri Harmony (1834) by Allen D. Carden.
• The Western Lyre (1835) by W. L. Chappell.
• The Sacred Harp or Eclectic Harmony (1835) by Lowell Mason and T. H. Mason.
• The Sacred Harp (1860 edition) by B. F. White and E. J. King. This book still includes the tune today.