American Hymn was commissioned by the American Bandmasters Association and the United States Air Force Band. It received its premiere on March 5th, 1980 as part of the 40th anniversary of the American Bandmasters Association in Washington, DC. It is based on an earlier choral work which Schuman contributed to a comprehensive survey entitled American Hymns Old and New, published by Columbia University Press. The Langston Hughes text that inspired the original human is simple and straightforward, which is reflected in the melodic setting (quasi hymn-spiritual).