Samuel A. Ward (1848–1903) was an American organist and composer whose hymn tune "Materna" became one of the most recognizable melodies in American music. Ward spent much of his career as a church musician in Newark, New Jersey, where he composed numerous hymn tunes and sacred works. His gift for writing memorable, singable melodies made his compositions endure well beyond his lifetime.
Ward's "Materna" first appeared in The Independent magazine in 1882 and paired perfectly with Katherine Lee Bates' text "America the Beautiful," written just four years later. Though Ward composed in the modest scale of hymn writing, his melodic instinct created a work that rivals the national anthem in cultural significance and remains a staple of American choral music.
