Showing posts with label morgan history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label morgan history. Show all posts

Friday, January 27, 2017

Justin Morgan, composer

You may know that Justin Morgan acquired a young colt named Figure and in doing so founded the Morgan horse breed.

You may not know that Justin Morgan's primary profession was actually singing teacher, one of those location- and era-specific professions that baffle us today.

He also composed a number of songs, one of which is still somewhat famous today, AND was named after me.

(obviously not really but I'm still going to claim it)


Here's a gorgeous symphonic interpretation of that same basic melody by composer Thomas Canning.


So, if you've read Marguerite Henry's Justin Morgan Had a Horse and like me hold dear the image of a lanky and laconic New Englander striding his way through the wilderness, followed by a scrubby colt: this is the music that was in his head.