Thomas Commuck facts for kids

Thomas Commuck (born January 18, 1804 – died November 25, 1855) was an American composer and historian. His music collection from 1845, called Indian Melodies, is thought to be the first music ever published by a Native American.

Early Life and Moving West

Thomas Commuck was a member of the Narragansett tribe. He was born in Charlestown, Rhode Island. When he was seven years old, in 1811, he started going to a school that helped Native American communities. He attended this school off and on until 1814.

As a young man, Thomas moved to Oneida County, New York. There, he joined a group of Mohegans and Pequots. This group later became known as the Brothertown Indians. In 1831, he married a Pequot woman named Hanna Abner.

Settling in Wisconsin

Later, Thomas and the rest of the Brothertown community moved to Calumet County, Wisconsin. He and his wife lived in Green Bay.

His Famous Book: Indian Melodies

In 1845, Thomas Commuck published his book of original songs, Indian Melodies. Another composer, Thomas Hastings, helped arrange the music. The book contains 120 Christian hymns.

What makes the book special is that the song titles came from the names of Native American chiefs, tribes, and places. Thomas Commuck wrote that he did this "merely as a tribute of respect" to tribes that were disappearing. He also wanted to show respect to tribes he knew.

All the songs in Indian Melodies are written in a style called shape note music. This style uses different shapes for musical notes to help people learn to sing. Commuck's book is one of the first books written by a Native American that specifically talks about Native American culture. One song from his collection later became famous as "Lone Pilgrim."

A Leader in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Thomas Commuck became an important leader in the Brothertown community. He held several important jobs. He was the tribe's postmaster, which meant he handled mail. He was also a justice of the peace, helping to solve legal problems. He also served as the community's historian, keeping track of their past.

In 1844, the Whig Party chose him to be a candidate for the Wisconsin House of Representatives. This was like running for a position in the local government.

Writing History

Thomas Commuck also wrote a "Sketch of the Brothertown Indians." This was a letter he sent to Lyman Draper, who was the secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. This letter has been published in collections of writings.

His Music Lives On

Thomas Commuck's music has influenced other composers. For example, Edward MacDowell used two of Commuck's works in his own music. "Old Indian Hymn" appears in MacDowell's Woodland Sketches, and "Shoshonee" is used in his Second "Indian" Suite.

Thomas Commuck passed away on November 25, 1855. He drowned after falling through ice near his home. A project is currently working to make recordings of his melodies and other historical documents available online. This project is part of the Yale Indian Papers project.

Images for kids

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  Indian Melodies, 1845