Thomas Baltzar
Thomas Baltzar (* around 1631 in Lübeck ; † July 24, 1663 in London ) was a German violinist and composer .
Life
The Lübeck musicians Nicolaus Bleyer and Johann Schop are considered Baltzar's teachers . From 1653 to 1654 Baltzar was the chamber violinist for Queen Christina of Sweden and after her abdication went first to Lübeck, where he received a position as a council musician and then to London in 1655. The twenty-five year old's polyphonic violin playing caused a sensation there. In 1661 he was appointed first violinist at the Chapel Royal . He held this position until his untimely death in July 1663.
In England he was one of the first to use the figured bass in their works. He created compositions for violin solo, some with scordatura , and trio sonatas , but also works for string ensembles. He united the north German instrumental style with that of the English consort music . Subsequent composers like Nicola Matteis and Henry Purcell often adopted this style.
A biography of Baltzar by Carl Stiehl published in 1888 was entitled: " Thomas Baltzar a Paganini of his time" .
literature
- Heinz Becker: Baltzar (Balzer, Balthasar), Thomas. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 1, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1953, ISBN 3-428-00182-6 , p. 569 ( digitized version ).
Web links
- Philipp Toman: Diploma thesis on Thomas Baltzar's life, style and work (2002)
- Sheet music and audio files by Thomas Baltzar in the International Music Score Library Project
Individual evidence
- ^ Carl Stiehl : Thomas Baltzar, a Paganini of his time. In: MONTHS FOR MUSIC HISTORY 20 (1888), No. 1
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Baltzar, Thomas |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German violinist and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1631 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Lübeck |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 24, 1663 |
| Place of death | London |