John Antes

John Antes, one of the first composers born in British America, wrote choral works and a variety of chamber music. In the late 1750s and early 1760s, Antes worked as an instrument maker; he is thought to have built the first violin and viola constructed in Britain's American colonies. In 1769, Antes was ordained as a Moravian minister and departed for a posting in Egypt. After ten years there, Antes was captured by followers of Osman Bey and underwent torture. While he was recuperating from this trauma, he apparently began to compose; his three surviving string trios date from this period. In 1785, Antes was posted as a warder to a Moravian church in Fulneck, England. Many of Antes' choral works date from this period, including the frequently performed Go Congregation Go! and Surely he has bourne our griefs. Antes died on December 17, 1811.