Biography:

The Ephrata religious community was founded by Conrad Beissel (1691-1768) in 1732 on the banks of the Cocalico Creek in Pennsylvania. The Cloister contained both celibate brothers and sisters and laypeople whose labor helped the community to thrive. Upon entering into the Ephrata community, the brothers and sisters took new names for themselves; Beissel himself became known as Father Friedsam. Ephrata was known for its printing press and the decorated hymnals it produced, which contained music composed by Beissel using his unique philosophy of music and composition. An offshoot of the Ephrata Cloister, the Snow Hill or Schneeberg Cloister, was founded nearby in 1798 by a husband and wife who were inspired by Beissel. Snow Hill operated in much the same way as Ephrata. Brothers and sisters lived a strict, celibate life, produced manuscripts and texts containing calligraphy and fraktur, and sang Beissel's music and hymns.