(b Frederick, pa, 24 March 1740; d Bristol, 17 Dec 1811). American Moravian composer. A minister and missionary and later warder of a Moravian community in England, he wrote three trios for two violins and cello (c1790; the earliest known chamber music by a native American composer), 31 anthems and songs, and 59 hymn tunes. His music is close to Haydn's in technique and spirit.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.