J. H. Stickney

John Stickney, born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, in 1742, was a pioneering figure in early American music. Recognized as one of the first composers in the history of the United States, Stickney contributed to the early American musical landscape, particularly through his work with sacred vocal music during the late colonial era.

His primary contribution to the musical literature of the period was The Gentlemen and Ladies' Musical Companion, which was published in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1774. This work was a comprehensive collection that brought together various psalms and anthems, alongside a set of foundational rules designed to help students learn the art of singing. Stickney's efforts in compiling these pieces helped shape early American choral traditions. He lived out his life in Massachusetts, eventually passing away in the town of South Hadley in 1826.