Theodore Frelinghuysen Seward (January 25, 1835 – August 30, 1902) was the Founder of the Brotherhood of Christian Unity and the Don't Worry Club.

Life and career

He was born in Florida, Orange County, New York. He left his father's farm at the age of eighteen to study music under Lowell Mason and

Thomas Hastings Thomas Hastings may refer to: *Thomas Hastings (colonist) (1605–1685), English immigrant to New England *Thomas Hastings (composer) (1784–1872), American composer, primarily of hymn tunes *Thomas Hastings (cricketer) (1865–1938), Australian cr ...

, became organist of a church in New London, Connecticut, in 1857, and in Rochester, New York, in 1859, moved to New York City in 1867, and conducted the "Musical Pioneer," and afterward the New York "Musical Gazette." He first became interested in the tonic sol-fa system during a visit to England in 1869, and on his return worked to introduce the method without adopting the notation. He then took charge of the performances of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, wrote down more than one hundred of their plantation melodies, and, while making the tour of Europe with them, in 1875–1876. became more impressed with the advantages of the new system of musical instruction. After a course of study at the Tonic sol-fa college in London, he returned to the United States in 1877, to establish the system. Besides writing on the subject for many religious and educational journals, and lecturing before gatherings of teachers, he has edited the "Tonic Sol-Fa Advocate" and the "Musical Reform," taught the system in classes and public schools, and prepared a series of textbooks. He was the founder of the American tonic sol-fa Association, and of the American vocal music association. He died in

East Orange, New Jersey East Orange is a City (New Jersey), city in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 69,612. The city was List of municipalities in ...

. William H. Seward was his second cousin.Theodore Frelinghuysen Seward 1835–1902, hymntime.com
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Publications

*"The Pestalozzian Music-Teacher" (New York, 1871) with Lowell Mason *"The Sunnyside Glee-Book" (New York, 1866)
Temple Choir
(1867) with Lowell Mason *"Coronation" (1872)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seward, Theodore Frelinghuysen 1835 births 1902 deaths American male composers American composers American Christian hymnwriters Composers of Christian music Frelinghuysen family Gospel music composers People from Florida, Orange County, New York Musicians from East Orange, New Jersey 19th-century American writers Songwriters from New Jersey 19th-century American male musicians