John Antes

Full biography John Antes

John Antes was one of the earliest American composers, born on March 24, 1740, in Frederick, near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is considered an important figure in the history of music as one of the first American composers and the first American-born Moravian missionary to Egypt.

Antes had a diverse range of interests and careers throughout his life, including violin making, watchmaking, inventing, missionary work, and composing. He was a gifted musician and his compositions included works for string trio, quartet, and flute sonata. Many of his works were religious in nature, reflecting his faith as a Moravian minister.

Antes' life was filled with adventure and travel. In the mid-1700s, he served in the British army during the French and Indian War. Later on, he became a Moravian missionary and traveled to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including a journey to Egypt in the 1770s, where he lived for a time and wrote music.

Despite his achievements, Antes was modest about his musical abilities and often published his works anonymously. In fact, he was known to use pseudonyms or even omit his name altogether from manuscripts, which is why some of his compositions may still be undiscovered today.

Today, Antes' music is recognized as an important part of American musical history. His legacy is celebrated by the Moravian Music Foundation, which has collected and preserved many of his compositions, and continues to honor his contributions to American music.