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He was born on 22nd December 1723 in Kothen,
Germany. His father was the principal viola
da gamba player in the court orchestra of Johann Sebastian
Bach. It is not known where he studied but he joined Johann Adolph Hasse's Orchestra at Dresden
on the recommendation of J.S. Bach and he stayed there for 20 years. In 1759 he went to England
as a chamber-musician to Queen Charlotte as well as giving a concert of his
own compositions on various instruments, including the newly invented
"pentachord". He was joined in London
by Johann Christian Bach and between them they established the Bach-Abel
concerts which were England's
first subscription concerts and it is through these concerts the works of
Haydn received their first performance. He was often chosen for portraits
and the artist Thomas Gainsborough, who was also
his friend, is known to have produced two paintings of him. His most widely known work was his
"Symphony No. 6 in E flat" which had been mistakenly given a K
number and assumed it was Mozart's instead of his.
He died on 20th June 1787 aged 63.
Cantilena
Recordings:
Symphony No. 1 in G major
Symphony No. 2 in B flat major
Symphony No. 3 in D major
Symphony No.4 in F
Symphony No. 5 in F
Symphony No. 6 in E-flat Major
La Stagione
Recordings
Trio in G major for Two Transverse Flutes and Basso
Continuo
Source:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Friedrich_Abel
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