Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787)
- Symphony in D major from 'VI Symhonies à 4 parties deux violons,
alt-viole & basse continue con les haubois et cornes de chasse ...
œuvre première' (1759)
Performers: Il Fondamеnto; Paul Dombrеcht (conductor)
Further info: Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787) - Sinfonia a 5 (1767)
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German composer, impresario, and viola da gamba player. The son of the
gambist at the court of Anhalt- Cöthen, Christian Ferdinand Abel
(c.1683-1737), grandson of Clamor Heinrich Abel (1634-1696) and brother
of Leopold August Abel (1718-1794), he received his early training from
his father. Upon the recommendation of Johann Sebastian Bach, he
obtained his first post in the Saxon Kapelle in 1748, but a decade later
he immigrated to England to become the chamber composer for Queen
Charlotte. On 29 February 1764 he performed his first joint concert with
Johann Christian Bach at the Carlisle House on Soho Square. Its success
began a collaborative series of 10 to 15 annual subscriptions concerts
there and later at Hannover Square known as the Bach-Abel Concerts.
Although competition began to weaken their appeal beginning with a
series of concerts at the Pantheon in 1774, it was the death of his
partner, Bach, in 1782 that caused these popular events to cease. At
this time, Abel toured Paris and Germany, briefly staying in Potsdam at
the court of Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, ultimately
returning to London in 1785. He remained active as a performer on an
instrument long out of fashion up until his death. He had a reputation
as a generous and likeable person, who offered aid in establishing
younger musicians. He also had a penchant for living well. As a soloist,
he was particularly praised for his sensitive and lyrical playing,
particularly in the slow movements. Charles Burney noted that “the most
pleasing, yet learned modulations, the richest harmony and the model
elegant and polished melody were all expressed with feeling, taste, and
science.” He is also known to have played the keyboard and French horn.
His 233 works were almost entirely concentrated on instrumental genres;
only a couple of arias and a song exist of his vocal compositions. These
include 44 sonatas for viola da gamba and keyboard, 42 symphonies, 39
trio sonatas (two violins, two flutes, and violin/cello with keyboard),
28 miscellaneous pieces for viola da gamba, 24 violin sonatas, 12 piano
trios, 12 string quartets, 10 flute quartets, seven flute sonatas, six
keyboard concertos, three sinfonia concertantes (including one for two
clarinets), two flute concertos, two cello concertos, and a number of
miscellaneous keyboard works.
