Abt, Franz
Born in Eilenburg, Prussian Saxony, December
22 1819.
He studied theology at Leipzig, but abandoned it for music. In 1841 he became
kapellmeister a the court theater in Bernburg, and soon after took a similar
position in Zurich, where he remained till 1852. He was then called to Brunswick
as chief conductor of the orchestra in the royal theater. In 1882 he retired to
Wiesbaden. Many of his songs (for example, "When the Swallows Homeward
Fly") and part-songs are popular favorites. Simplicity of melody, rather
than great depth, characterizes his work. In 1872 he visited the United
States.
He died in Wiesbaden, March 31, 1885.
Albert, Charles Louis Napoleon d'
Born near Hamburg, Germany, February 25,
1809.
His father, a captain in the French cavalry, died when his son was hardly eight
years old. His mother then took him to England, and from her he received his
first musical training. His first position was that of ballet-master at the
Kings' Theater, London. Later, he taught dancing and composed dance music. He
lived many years at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, then returned to London, where he
passed the rest of his life. Among his well known pieces are "Bridal
Polka", "Sweethearts Waltz", "Sultan's Polka", and
"Edinburgh Quadrille".
He died in London, May 26 1886.
Artchiboucheff, Nicolas
Vassilievitch
Born in Tsarskoe-Selo, Russia, March 7, 1858.
He studied law and practiced as an advocate, but is known wholly for his musical
works, among which are numerous pianoforte transcriptions, two mazurkas for
pianoforte, and a few songs.
Ascher, Joseph
Born in Groningen, Holland, June 4, 1829.
He was a pupil of Moscheles in London and at the Conservatorium at Leipzig. In
1849 he went to Paris, where he was subsequently for some time court pianist.
His compositions, numbering about a hundred salon pieces, include galops,
mazurkas, nocturnes, etudes and transcriptions. They are of moderate difficulty,
and contain elements of grace and finish. "La Perle du Nord" and
"Dozia" both mazurkas and "Les Gouttes d'Eau", an etude, are
among the best.
He died in London June 4, 1869
Bach, Johann Christian
Born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1735.
His early musical training was conducted almost entirely by his father, the
famous Johann Sebastian, to whom he owed both the finish and the quality of his
work. In 1754 he became organist of Milan Cathedral, in 1759 concert director in
London. While by no means so great a musician as Johann Sebastian, he is well
known for several operas and sacred works. He has always been called the
"English Bach", to distinguish him from his brothers, who were also
musicians.
He died in London, January 1, 1782
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Born in Eisenach, Saxe-Weimar, Germany, March
21, 1685
His father taught him the violin. An elder brother, the famous Johann Cristoph,
assumed the boy's guardianship upon the death of his parents. Bach, becoming
expert, soon aspired to advanced music, which his brother, however, refused him.
On one occasion the boy, determined to obtain a book of masters, stole it from
the cupboard where it was kept and copied the entire volume by moonlight, taking
six months to complete the task.
After fifteen Bach entered the
Michaelisschule at Luneberg, where he made a study of instrumental music,
chiefly organ and pianoforte playing. After remaining three years he became a
violinist in the court orchestra at Weimar, and in 1704 was made organist at
Arnstadt. There his talents excited comment and he received applications from
several quarters. In 1708 he was appointed court organist at Weimar, where his
fame as the first organist of his time reached its height. Upon his appointment
as "Hof-concertmeister" in 1714, his activities were considerably
extended.
Later, in 1717, Bach was appointed
kapellmeister at Kothen, by Prince Leopold of Anhalt. The easy duties of this
position allowed him much time for study, so that this period of his life was
extremely fertile in the production of instrumental music. In 1723 Bach was made
cantor at the Thomasschule in Leipzig - a position that he retained for life -
as well as organist and director of music in the Thomaskirche and the
Nicolaikirche. While there he wrote his Passions and Cantatas, the
"Well-tempered Clavichord", and the High Mass in B minor, which
revealed the full power of his genius.
Throughout his life Bach wrote
unceasingly in every form and branch of musical composition. A few of his works
he engraved himself; most of them were not published until after his death. He
occupies in the history of music a position of peculiar importance. To him, said
Schumann, "music owes almost as great a debt as a religion owes its
founder". From him the modern school of music is dated, and his
compositions - particularly his great vocal and organ works - are regarded as
unsurpassed in originality and technical construction.
He died in Leipzig, July 28, 1750
Bachmann, Gottlob
Born in Bornitz (Saxony), Germany, March 26,
1763
He studied under Frech at Zeitz, paying especial attention to pianoforte music
and harmony. Later, in 1785, he studied counterpoint in Leipzig, and in 1790
removed to Dresden, where he was a pupil of Naumann. In 1791 he was appointed
organist at Zeitz. His compositions include operatic works - for example,
"Don Silvio de Rosaiva" and "Orpheus and Eurydice"; also
many songs and instrumental pieces, among the latter being quintets for the
pianoforte, flute, violin, viola, and violoncello; trios, quartets, and
orchestral music.
He died in Zeitz, April 10, 1840
