Anton Pann

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Anton Pann (in the 1790s, Sliven, in Rumelia—November 2, 1854, Bucharest) born Antonie Pantoleon-Petroveanu (also mentioned as Anton Pantoleon), was a Wallachian poet and composer.

Although born in today's Bulgaria to parents of Aromanian origin, he spent most of his life in Bucharest - where his family took refuge in 1812, after the Russo-Turkish War and a short stay in Chişinău. In 1821, when Tudor Vladimirescu's rebellion occupied the city, Pann fled to the Transylvanian city of Braşov; he also spent time in Râmnicu Vâlcea (1827-1828), where he was a teacher at the seminary before a scandal caused by his elopement with a young woman.

He was for years cantor in the churches of Bucharest, and then worked in a typography, which he ultimately owned. Pann also wrote pieces of religious and secular music; he is remembered for writing the music to Deşteaptă-te, române!, Romania's national anthem.

His literary works include:

• Năzdrăvăniile lui Nastratin Hogea ("The Mischiefs of Nastratin Hogea")
• Povestea vorbei ("The History of the Word")
• De la lume adunate şi iarăşi la lume date ("[Sayings] Gathered from Folk and Returned to Folk"), a proverb list.