Isaac van Vleck Flagler (1840-1909) is nearly unknown today, but he
was an important American organist with a fascinating career in upstate New
York. The “American Air” in the title is Stephen Foster’s
Old
Folks at Home (
“Way down upon the Swanee River ...”)
from 1851. Possibly, this was done to avoid royalties! This
music ranges from an easy statement of the theme to the difficult and brilliant
runs in the second variation.