Anthony Philip Heinrich (1781-1861)

Anthony Philip Heinrich is one of the more influential figures in American music history. Dubbed "America's Beethoven", he is considered America's first professional composer, being active in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Boston, and New York.

Heinrich was born on March 11, 1781 in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). After his adoption by a wealthy uncle, he inherited property and a prospering business. However, as a result of the Napoleonic wars, Heinrich lost everything and came to America in 1805. It was here that he turned his energies to music as a violinist, conductor, composer, and impresario. Heinrich is credited with directing the first performance of a Beethoven symphony in America in Lexington, Kentucky in 1817.

Having studied violin and piano as a child, Heinrich began composing around 1818. His op.1, published in 1820, was actually a collection of songs, anthems, and instrumental music that he titled The Dawning of Music in Kentucky: Pleasures of Harmony in the Solitudes of Nature. Such a programmatic title is a trademark of Heinrich's compositions and displays his interest in the imagery of nature and Americana. Most of his compositions can be traced to specific personal experiences and are, therefore, autobiographical in scope. He is also the first composer to employ American Indian themes in his music.

Heinrich made several journeys back to Europe where he played violin in some opera orchestras and where he studied theory and composition, even entering a composition competition in Vienna where he was disappointed for the awarding of the prize to Franz Lachner. He returned to New York and became influential in the founding if the New York Philharmonic Society in 1842. His popularity grew to the point of earning him the nickname "Papa Heinrich."

The style of Heinrich's music does invoke that of Beethoven. However, Heinrich is most successful with "theme and variations" rather than development of a theme. He was constantly rewriting his music for a variety of media that, no doubt, contributed to his popularity. He preferred writing for large orchestras and unfortunately, there were few such ensembles in America at the time.

Unlike many American composers of the nineteenth century, Heinrich's reputation was international. His contacts with others of influence are remarkable and include a personal audience with President John Tyler. Despite this remarkable life among powerful people, Heinrich died in poverty in New York.

Most of the papers and manuscripts of Heinrich have been acquired by the Library of Congress. A few works are in the National Museum in Prague.