About Joseph Erskine Agnew
Lived 1868 – 1949 (aged 81). Joseph Erskine Agnew was an American composer.
Joseph Erskine Agnew (1868/69 – December 1, 1949 ) was a musician, arranger, music store proprietor, and music publisher in Des Moines, Iowa and later Newton, Iowa briefly. He played the mandolin. He became a nationally prominent band music publisher. Sheet music published by his Agnew Music Publishing Company is in the collections of the Library of Congress, the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and the University of Rochester.
He was born in Ohio. He copyrighted a valse by Myron A. Bickford. He also copyrighted an arrangement of a work by J. Offenbach. He copyrighted an arrangement of concert waltzes by Guy Sterling (musician) for the mandolin.
He wrote "The 20th Century Method for Guitar" (1901, 1907). He published "Musical Novelties for Mandolin Orchestra: The Cleveland Two Step".
In 1917 he advertised various compositions of New Band Music in the Musical Messenger.
He moved his business to Newton, Iowa where he was a band leader.
He sold his store to the Volkwein Brothers of Pittsburgh in 1939.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Joseph Erskine Agnew?
American musician
When was Joseph Erskine Agnew born?
Joseph Erskine Agnew was born on 7 November 1868.
When did Joseph Erskine Agnew die?
Joseph Erskine Agnew died on 1 December 1949.
What was Joseph Erskine Agnew's occupation?
Joseph Erskine Agnew was a composer.
What nationality was Joseph Erskine Agnew?
Joseph Erskine Agnew was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Joseph Erskine Agnew
· DBpedia: Joseph Erskine Agnew
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joseph Erskine Agnew. https://biography.guide/joseph-erskine-agnew/
MLA: "Joseph Erskine Agnew." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joseph-erskine-agnew/.
Chicago: "Joseph Erskine Agnew." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joseph-erskine-agnew/.
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