Carl Friedrich Abel

Carl Friedrich Abel   1777

Painting: detail of Thomas Gainsborough

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Born in Köthen, Anhalt-Köthen, on 22 December 1723, Carl Friedrich Abel was an early classical composer who specialized in cello and viola de gamba as a performer. As an older contemporary of Mozart he received latter's seal of approval. Anhalt-Köthen was a Catholic principality of the Holy Roman Empire in present-day Germany. Abel's father was composer, Christian Ferdinand Abel. Carl received additional instruction from Johann Sebastian Bach at Thomasschule in Leipzig, among the oldest schools in Europe founded in 1212.

In 1743 Abel joined Hasse's court orchestra where he remained the next fifteen years. In 1759 he crossed the Channel to England where he published his Op 1 circa 1760 consisting of six symphonies with 'Symphony in B-flat major' as WK 1. "WK" (also "K" or "WKO") numbers for Abel are per Walter Knape's 'Bibliographisch-thematisches Verzeichnis der Kompositionen von Karl Friedrich Abel' as of 1971. These are designated "KnaA" at RISM. More recent "AbelWV" numbers are cited from Günter von Zadow's 'Catalogue of Works of Carl Friedrich Abel' as of 2023. The "AbelWV" denotes categories as follows: A=one instrument, B=two instruments, C=three Instruments, D=four Instruments, E=symphonies, F=concertos and G=other. Albeit "WK" numbers are yet commonly used the switch to "AbelWV" is presently encouraged. Abel might also be assigned a Holman number "A" for works with viola de gamba per 'Charles Frederick Abel’s Viola da Gamba Music: A New Catalogue' written with Zadow for publishing in 2017 [Viola da Gamba Society]. Abel's catalogue hasn't always been in perfect order with such as his 'Symphony in E flat' once ascribed to Mozart as 'Symphony No. 3' K 18. Twenty-eight of his works went missing until discovered in 2017 by Sonia Wronkowska in what are called the Maltzan Manuscripts [see also the Maltzan-Sammlung]. A sonata by Johann Christian Bach (son of Johann Sebastian) was also found with those manuscripts.

'Allegro assai' of 'Overture in G major'   Carl Friedrich Abel 

AbelWV A62   WK 6   Op 1 No.6   Pub c 1760

Die Kölner Akademie / Michael Alexander Willens

In 1762 the aforesaid Johann Christian Bach arrived in London, whence began their collaboration as concert directors in 1765 to as late as 1781, Bach to die in 1782. Taking turns delivering music to the London audience, though they composed for themselves or each other during a solid partnership together, I've not found any instance of them ever composing anything jointly. In the meantime Abel had become a chamber musician (viol) for Queen Charlotte in 1764, Johann Christian also employed by Charlotte. Unlike Johann Sebastian who preferred harpsichord to pianoforte, Johann Christian (his son) composed for the touchy newer instrument not yet fully developed into the piano we know today.

Queen Charlotte of Great Britain   C 1781

Painting: Thomas Gainsborough

Source: Wikipedia

Among titles below is Abel's 'Fuga for Viola da Gamba' solo which is No.12 of '27 Pieces for the Via da Gamba' [digital copy] which is part of the Drexel Manuscript 5871 containing 45 instrumental pieces including seventeen sonatas by Arcangelo Corelli.

'Symphony in D major'   Carl Friedrich Abel 

WK 15   Op 7 No.3   1767

La Stagione Frankfurt / Michael Schneider

'Symphony in E-flat major'   Carl Friedrich Abel 

WK 18   Op 7 No.6   1767

La Stagione Frankfurt / Michael Schneider

'Fuga for Viola da Gamba'   D major   Carl Friedrich Abel 

AbelWV A16   WK 196   Holman A1:16   RISM: KnaA 196   Drexel Manuscript of 1770

Viola: Susanne Heinrich

'Symphony in D major'   Carl Friedrich Abel 

Op 17 No.3   1785

The Hanover Band / Anthony Halstead

Upon Bach's death in 1782 Abel traveled in Germany and France for the next three years. He finished out his life as a chief member of the Hanover Square Rooms (Queen's Concert Rooms). Giving his last concert on 21 May of 1787, he died the next month on 20 June 1787.