Christian Ferdinand Abel

Probably a portrait of Christian Ferdinand Abel and three of his sons; right: Leopold August Abel (ca.1737)

Christian Ferdinand Abel (* 1682 in Hanover , † 1761 in Koethen ) was one of the most famous violonists and above all the viol virtuosos of the Baroque era .

Life

Abel's father was the composer , violonist and organist Clamor Heinrich Abel , who worked in Hanover . For some time Christian Ferdinand served in the Swedish army of Charles XII . during the occupation of northern Germany and married the Swede Anna Christina Holm.

He then went to Berlin, where he became a prominent member of the court orchestra of King Frederick I of Prussia. Here he remained until its dissolution by the frugal "Soldier King" Frederick William I in 1713. With several of his colleagues, he then moved to Köthen (Anhalt) to the set up there in 1714 court orchestra as a violinist and viola da gamba under Augustin Reinhard Stricker participate .

Under Stricker's successor Johann Sebastian Bach , Abel officiated as "Premier-Musicus" of the court orchestra. Bach was the godfather of his daughter Sophie-Charlotte, who was born on January 6, 1720 in Köthen. In the same year Abel and Bach accompanied Prince Leopold on his trip to Karlsbad . It is believed that Bach may have composed his three sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord for Abel in order to teach Prince Leopold to play the viola . Abel spent the rest of his life in Koethen, where he was also buried.

Abel's son Carl Friedrich Abel , who was born in Köthen in 1723 , became known as a prolific composer and viol virtuoso, but above all for the London "Bach-Abel Concerts" he founded in collaboration with Johann Christian Bach , the first subscription concerts in England. Further sons were Leopold August Abel , Ernst August Abel and Ernst Heinrich Abel .

Individual evidence

↑ Gernot Grohs: “The Abel family of musicians in Köthen. New knowledge in the environment of the Bach family. ”In: Das Orchester 49 (10), 2001: pp. 23–26. Grohs quotes from the baptism, marriage and death register of the St. Agnuskirche zu Köthen 1761: “on April 3, 1761 H. Christian Ferdinand Abel, princely. Cammer-Musikus, his age 78th year 8 months. "Christian Ferdinand Abel died at the end of March / beginning of April 1761 and was given the age of" 78. Year 8th month “born around July / August 1682.

personal data
SURNAME	Abel, Christian Ferdinand
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German baroque viol virtuoso
DATE OF BIRTH	1682
PLACE OF BIRTH	Hanover
DATE OF DEATH	1761
Place of death	Koethen

[1] Gernot Grohs: “The Abel family of musicians in Köthen. New knowledge in the environment of the Bach family. ”In: Das Orchester 49 (10), 2001: pp. 23–26. Grohs quotes from the baptism, marriage and death register of the St. Agnuskirche zu Köthen 1761: “on April 3, 1761 H. Christian Ferdinand Abel, princely. Cammer-Musikus, his age 78th year 8 months. "Christian Ferdinand Abel died at the end of March / beginning of April 1761 and was given the age of" 78. Year 8th month “born around July / August 1682.