Heinrich Carl Ebell

Heinrich Carl Ebell (also Heinrich Karl Ebell ; born December 30, 1775 in Neuruppin , † March 12, 1824 in Opole ) was a German composer, music director, music writer, lawyer and councilor.

Live and act

Heinrich Carl Ebell was the son of a chamberlain in Neuruppin. His father died when he was three years old, his mother was the sister of Lieutenant General Johann Heinrich von Günther . He already devoted himself to music at high school. In addition to studying law at the University of Halle , he completed his musical studies with Daniel Gottlob Türk . After taking the legal clerkship exam in Berlin , he worked there as a court clerk between 1797 and 1800 .

His musical patron Johann Friedrich Reichardt suggested him to succeed the music director Vincenz Tuček at the Breslau Theater. Ebell's opera The Bridegroom Mirror was received with great acclaim, which contributed to his being appointed music director in 1801. At his suggestion, the Philomusical Society was founded in 1804 . In addition to himself, members included Friedrich Wilhelm Berner , Joseph Ignaz Schnabel , Johann Gottlieb Schummel and Karl Friedrich Etzler. Here musical as well as general scientific topics related to music were discussed. After disagreements between the theater management and the orchestra at the Breslauer Theater - in particular because of difficult financial circumstances that limited the performance options - Ebell resigned from his position as music director in 1804 (his successor was the 17-year-old Carl Maria von Weber ).

Ebell then took over a position as secretary at the Wroclaw War and Domain Chamber , from 1805 at the Commissariat of the Upper Silesian Army and from 1806 was secretary to Minister Karl Georg von Hoym . In 1809 he married Josephine Renner, daughter of the castellan of Count Schaffgotsch , who died after only 10 months. His second marriage was in 1811 with Maria Kambly, sister-in-law of the government councilor Hampe, whom he knew.

In 1814, two tragic events overtook him - the death of a child and an accident during a visit by Andreas Romberg . When the horses ran away on a joint carriage ride, Ebell jumped off the carriage and fell so unhappily that he broke his leg and suffered a lifelong health problem.

In 1816 he was appointed royal councilor in Opole. He held this office until his death. A double-choir mass that he began in 1815 and completed in 1816 was his last compositional work; since then he has devoted himself exclusively to his service duties - a circumstance that was certainly due to his poor health.

Works

In addition to his compositions for operas, concerts and various social events, Ebell was active as a music writer and wrote reviews , reports and music-theoretical treatises.

Opera and vocal works

amongst other things:

• The Guardian Spirit (1798)
• Selico and Berissa
• Le déserteur
• The groom's mirror (1801)
• D as celebration of love (1800/03)
• The gifts of genius
• Das Fest im Eichthale - Opera in 3 acts (first performance 1807 in Breslau)
• The Night Watchman - Singspiel (Breslau 1807)
• Anacreon in Italy (1800, revised 1810)
• Tonkunst Prize - Cantata (1811)
• Fair (18016)

• Music for the tragedy Larnassa
• Immortality - oratorio dedicated to the Queen of Prussia
• Cantatas and various sacred chants

Instrumental works

amongst other things:

• 3 symphonies
• Overtures
• String quartets
• Chamber music

Web links

Short biography of Heinrich Carl Ebell in the Digital Edition of the Carl-Maria-von-Weber Complete Edition

Works by Heinrich Carl Ebell in the RISM catalog

Individual evidence

1. ^ Carl Julius Adolf Hoffmann: The Tonkünstler Schlesiens: a contribution to the art history of Silesia, from the years 960 to 1830 (etc.) . Aderholz, 1830 ( google.de [accessed December 12, 2018]).
2. ↑ Arrey von Dommer: General German Biography, Volume 5 . 1877 ( deutsche-biographie.de [accessed December 12, 2018]).