Background
João Baptista Antunes (f11825–1865), was the grandson of Manuel and became a maker of keyboard instruments.
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Joaquim Antunes
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Julião Antunes was the father of Joaquim José. He was a maker of string instruments for the royal chapel. Manuel Antunes (1707–1796) was the brother of Joaquim José and was also an instrument maker.
They shared a workshop.
There are four Antunes instruments still in existence. Two single manual harpsichords with disposition 8" 8" are signed by Joaquin José: one dated 1758, now in the Museu da Música, Lisbon and one dated 1785, now in the Finchcocks collection, Goudhurst, Kent.
Their other existing instruments are signed only "Antunes", probably because they were made by Manuel and Joaquin José working together. These are a grand piano, very similar to their harpsichords in design and construction with an action like that of Bartolomeo Cristofori, made in 1767, now in the National Music Museum, Vermillion, South Dakota and a harpsichord similar to the others made in 1789 in the Museu da Música, Lisbon.
The existing instruments have been readily seized upon by harpsichordists as the ideal instruments upon which to play the music of Portuguese and Spanish baroque composers such as Carlos Seixas and Manuel Blasco de Nebra.
These recordings use Antunes instruments:
Carlos Seixas: Harpsichord Sonatas, played by Cremilde Rosado Fernandes (1758 instrument). Portugalsom Civil Defense 870023/Personal. Carlos Seixas: Harpsichord Sonatas, played by Robert Woolley (1785 instrument). Amon Ra Civil Defense-Sons of the American Revolution 43. Carlos Seixas: Harpsichord Sonatas, Sinfonia, Harpsichord Concerto, conducted and played by Ketil Haugsand (1758 instrument) with the Norwegian Baroque Orchestra.
Virgin Veritas 45114.
Carlos Seixas: Concerto, Sonatas, played by José Luis González Uriol (1758 instrument) and Segréis de Lisboa (conducted by Manuel Morais), Portugaler 2003-2002
Carlos Seixas: 12 Harpsichord Sonatas, played by Rui Paiva (1758 instrument), Philips 528 574-2
Manuel Blasco de Nebra: Sonatas & Pastorelas, played by Carole Cerasi (1785 instrument). Metronomist MET1064. Lodovico Giustini di Pistoia: Sonate da Cimbalo di Piano, e Forte, detto volgarmente di Martelletti (Firenze, 1732), played by Cremilde Rosado Fernandes (1767 pianoforte), Numérica - National Union of Mineworkers 1047
Carlos Seixas: Harpsichord Sonatas (complete recording, volume I), played by José Carlos Araújo (1758 instrument).
Melographia Portugueza Civil Defense 12/001, MPMP. Carlos Seixas: Harpsichord Sonatas (complete recording, volume III), played by José Carlos Araújo (1758 instrument). Melographia Portugueza Civil Defense 13/003, MPMP.
Membership
Other members of his family were also harpsichord and piano makers.
