Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Latrobe, John Antes
LATROBE, JOHN ANTES (1799–1878), writer on music, son of Christian Ignatius Latrobe [q. v.], was born in London in 1799. He received his education at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, graduated B.A. 1826, M.A. 1829, took orders in the church of England, served as curate at Melton Mowbray, Tintern (Monmouthshire), and other places, and finally became incumbent of St. Thomas's, Kendal, a post which he held from 1840 to 1865. In 1858 he was made an honorary canon of Carlisle Cathedral. He died, unmarried, at Gloucester, where he had been living in retirement, on 19 Nov. 1878. Latrobe was the author of 'The Music of the Church considered in its various branches, Congregational and Choral,' London, 1831, a book which was much valued in its day, but which, owing to its obsolete views, is now seldom quoted. His other publications include: 'Instructions of Chenaniah: Plain Directions for accompanying the Chant or Psalm Tune,' London, 1832; 'Scripture Illustrations,' London, 1838; and two volumes of original poetry, 'The Solace of Song,' 1837, and 'Sacred Lays and Lyrics,' 1850. He compiled the Hymn Book used in his church at Kendal, and several of his own hymns were included in it.
His brother, Peter Latrobe (1795–1863), took orders in the Moravian church, and succeeded his father as secretary of the Moravian mission. He too had musical talent, both as an organist and composer; he wrote for an edition of the 'Moravian Hymn Tunes' an 'Introduction on the Progress of the Church Psalmody,' which shows a wide knowledge of the subject.
[Brief Notices of the Latrobe Family, as cited under Christian Ignatius Latrobe; private information which shows that the statement in Grove's Dict. of Music (ii. 102) that J. A. Latrobe was an organist in Liverpool is incorrect.]